SEEN FROM ELSEWHERE – In December, an international group of experts published a study carried out on nearly 50,000 stars similar to the Sun. They analyzed the frequency of extreme eruptions occurring on their surface. And the result is enough to give you chills.
Par Piotr Cieśliński (Gazeta Wyborcza)
A “super solar flare” could have disastrous consequences for our civilization. Our star is an immense ball of plasma that a nuclear fusion reaction causes to burn up. To this day, many of the phenomena observed on its surface since the mid-19th century remain imperfectly understood, starting with the 11-year solar cycles that punctuate its activity.
It is also unclear whether or when extreme flares are occurring on the Sun that could project a powerful energy flow of ionizing radiation and a plasma cloud toward Earth. Until now, the energy released by the strongest flares observed in the era of space studies did not exceed a tenth of that emitted by the Sun in one second. However, this does not prevent them from having significant impacts.
On the verge of peak activity
The start of 2025 was marked by a strong…
This article is reserved for subscribers. You have 90% left to discover.
-
Flash Sale
€4.99 per month for 12 months. No commitment.
Already subscribed? Log in
