Stunning 'Solar Curtains' Phenomenon Revealed on The Sun in New Images
The radiant 'curtains' are only about as thick as Manhattan is long, driven across the solar landscape by fluctuations in magnetic fields that emerge from within the broiling plasma that surrounds the Sun.
"In this work, we investigate the fine-scale structure of the solar surface for the first time with an unprecedented spatial resolution of just about 20 kilometers, or the length of Manhattan Island," says astronomer David Kuridze, from the NSO.
"These striations are the fingerprints of fine-scale magnetic field variations."
The new research, led by a team from the National Solar Observatory (NSO) in the US, gives us fresh insight into what's happening on the surface of the Sun, as well as once again demonstrating the optical power of the Inouye telescope.
Let's not forget that the Sun is around 150 million kilometers away from Earth, so being able to spot distinctive features at this kind of resolution is a triumph of science and engineering.
The striations appear at the edges of larger solar convection bubbles (or granules) previously observed by Inouye, caused by the heating and cooling of plasma.
The brightness and darkness of the stripes is controlled by the strength of the magnetic field, and very slight variations in these fields can shift the properties of the plasma. When the field is weaker than its surroundings, the curtains dim with respect to its glowing background.
The research team followed its observations with simulations of the physics of the phenomenon, finding a match that explained what the telescope was showing – although this wasn't something the astronomers had expected to see.
"Magnetism is a fundamental phenomenon in the Universe, and similar magnetically induced stripes have also been observed in more distant astrophysical objects, such as molecular clouds," says NSO astronomer Han Uitenbroek.
"Inouye's high resolution, in combination with simulations, allows us to better characterize the behavior of magnetic fields in a broad astrophysical context."
There's a lot of incredibly complex physics behind the Sun's surface weather, and being able to view it in more detail will reveal the interactions of heat, magnetism, and movement – and how they might be playing out elsewhere in the Universe.
And there's going to be plenty more to come from the Inouye telescope, which only started making scientific observations in earnest in 2022. The information we've already gleaned from its imagery will help us better understand events like sunspots and solar eruptions, which can have repercussions on Earth.
"This is just one of many firsts for the Inouye, demonstrating how it continues to push the frontier of solar research," says NSO astronomer David Boboltz.
"It also underscores Inouye's vital role in understanding the small-scale physics that drive space weather events that impact our increasingly technological society here on Earth."
The research has been published in the Astrophysical Journal Letters.
The Sun's Fury Is Making SpaceX Satellites Plummet From The Sky
Astronomers Just Discovered The Biggest Explosions Since The Big Bang
Titan's Atmosphere 'Wobbles Like a Gyroscope' – And No One Knows Why
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
E&E News
2 days ago
- E&E News
Dems slam ‘baffling' move to boot science agency from HQ
House Democrats are demanding answers from the Trump administration about its plans to remove National Science Foundation employees from the agency's headquarters to make room for the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Reps. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.) and Haley Stevens (D-Mich.) — who serve on the House committee with jurisdiction over scientific research and the National Science Foundation — sent a letter this week to the head of the General Services Administration demanding swift responses about the displacement of the science agency. 'This baffling decision demands answers on the process that has or has not been followed, the plans for NSF, and the jaw-dropping demands allegedly made by Secretary Turner regarding luxury accommodations for his personal use,' the lawmakers wrote to acting GSA Administrator Stephen Ehikian. Advertisement 'We are in receipt of the letter and are working on a timely response,' a GSA spokesperson said in an email.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
How slashing university research grants impacts Colorado's economy and national innovation – a CU Boulder administrator explains
The Trump administration has been freezing or reducing federal grants to universities across the country. Over the past several months, universities have lost more than US$11 billion in funding, according to NPR. More than two dozen universities, including the University of Colorado Boulder and the University of Denver, have been affected. Research into cancer, farming solutions and climate resiliency are just a few of the many projects nationally that have seen cuts. The Conversation asked Massimo Ruzzene, senior vice chancellor for research and innovation at the University of Colorado Boulder, to explain how these cuts and freezes are impacting the university he works for and Colorado's local economy. Federal funding pays for approximately 70% of CU Boulder's research each year. That's about $495 million in the 2023-2024 fiscal year. The other 30% of research funding comes from a variety of sources. The second-largest is international partnerships at $127 million. Last year, CU Boulder also received $27 million in philanthropic gifts to support research and approximately $29 million from collaborations with industry. CU Boulder uses this money to fund research that advances fields like artificial intelligence, space exploration and planetary sciences, quantum technologies, biosciences and climate and energy. At CU Boulder, federal funding also supports research projects like the Dust Accelerator Laboratory that helps us understand the composition and structure of cosmic dust. This research allows scientists to reconstruct the processes that formed planets, moons and organic molecules. So far in 2025, CU Boulder has received 56 grant cancellations or stop-work orders. Those amount to approximately $30 million in lost funding. This number is not inclusive of awards that are on hold and awaiting action by the sponsor. This number also does not include the funds that have not been accessible due the considerable lag in funding from agencies such as the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health. Nationwide, National Science Foundation funding has dropped by more than 50% through the end of May of this year compared to the average of the past 10 years. The university anticipates that our funding received from these agencies will drop a similar amount, but the numbers are still being collected for this year. A wide variety. To take just one example, CU Boulder's Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences and the Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research investigate how to monitor, predict, respond to and recover from extreme weather conditions and natural disasters. This research directly impacts the safety, well-being and prosperity of Colorado residents facing wildfires, droughts and floods. Past research from these groups includes recovery efforts following the 2021 Marshall Fire in the Boulder area. Researchers collaborated with local governments and watershed groups to monitor environmental impacts and develop dashboards that detailed their findings. Colorado has more aerospace jobs per capita than any other state. The sector employs more than 55,000 people and contributes significantly to both Colorado's economy and the national economy. This ecosystem encompasses research universities such as CU Boulder and Colorado-based startups like Blue Canyon Technologies and Ursa Major Technologies. It also includes established global companies like Lockheed Martin and Raytheon Technologies. At CU Boulder, the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics is one of the world's premier space science research institutions. Researchers at the lab design, build and operate spacecraft and other instruments that contribute critical data. That data helps us understand Earth's atmosphere, the Sun, planetary systems and deep space phenomena. If the projects the lab supports are cut, then it's likely the lab will be cut as well. The Presidential Budget Request proposes up to 24% cuts to NASA's annual budget. These include reductions of 47% for the Science Mission Directorate. The directorate supports more than a dozen space missions at CU Boulder. That cut could have an immediate impact on university programs of approximately $50 million. One of the largest space missions CU Boulder is involved in is the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution orbiter. MAVEN, as it's known, provides telecommunications and space weather monitoring capabilities. These are necessary to support future human and robotic missions to Mars over the next decade and beyond, a stated priority for the White House. If MAVEN were to be canceled, experts estimate that it would cost almost $1 billion to restart it. While the federal government has identified quantum technology as a national priority, the fiscal year 2026 budget proposal only maintains existing funding levels. It does not introduce new investments or initiatives. I'm concerned that this stagnation, amid broader cuts to science agencies, could undermine progress in this field and undercut the training of its critical workforce. The result could be the U.S. ceding its leadership in quantum innovation to global competitors. This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Massimo Ruzzene, University of Colorado Boulder Read more: Trump administration aims to slash funds that preserve the nation's rich architectural and cultural history Federal funding for higher ed comes with strings attached, but is still worth it When the federal budget funds scientific research, it's the economy that benefits Massimo Ruzzene receives funding from the National Science Foundation.
Forbes
5 days ago
- Forbes
Your Ultimate Guide To Meteor Showers And The Perseids — By An Expert
A fireball streaks across the morning sky above NSF Kitt Peak National Observatory (KPNO), a Program ... More of NSF NOIRLab funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation. What's a summer without a meteor shower? If lying underneath a sky full of stars waiting for meteors is your thing, summer in the Northern Hemisphere brings one not-to-be-missed opportunity — the Perseids. Sadly, that's not the case this year, with an almost full moon destined to bleach the sky so much that barely any of its 75-100 'shooting stars' per hour will be visible. Luckily, there are other summer meteor showers, and it just so happens that the peak night for two others overlaps with the best night to see at least a hint of the Perseids. From the famed Perseid meteor shower to the fireball-prone Alpha Capricornids and the reliable Delta Aquariids, here's everything you need to know about seeing 'shooting stars' this summer with this ultimate guide to meteor showers in summer 2025. Perseids: Summer's Moonstruck Meteor Shower The Perseid meteor shower is the most anticipated celestial event of the year for the Northern Hemisphere, but in 2025, special care is required to avoid disappointment. Active from July 17 to Aug. 23, the Perseids peak overnight on Aug. 12–13. In 2025, however, stargazers face a challenge: a full sturgeon moon on Aug. 9 will still be bright enough to outshine all but the brightest meteors during the peak. Here's the rub — ignore the peak night and instead opt for two moonless nights as close as possible to it: July 29–30 and August 15-16. On both occasions, you'll likely get a modest showing of Perseids — about 5 to 15 meteors per hour — but under truly dark, moonless skies. Even at lower rates, the Perseids can impress. Known for fast, bright meteors with long trails, they radiate from the constellation Perseus in the northeast. However, you don't need to fixate on any one direction—its meteors, like all meteors, can appear anywhere in the sky. Plus, there's an additional reason to skywatch for "shooting stars" on July 29-30. Delta Aquariids And Alpha Capricornids Peaking on the same night as the Perseid's best early showing will be no fewer than two meteor showers — the Delta Aquariids and the Alpha Capricornids. The Delta Aquariids will bring up to 25 faint meteors, but they're consistent and can be seen for a few nights on either side of the peak. Their radiant point lies near the constellation Aquarius in the southern sky. It's a similar story for the Alpha Capricornids, which also emanate from the southern sky in the constellation Capricornus. They'll number only five to 10 meteors per hour, but what they lack in numbers, they may make up for in spectacle because these slow, bright meteors can often be fireballs. Expert Advice On Seeing 'Shooting Stars' According to NASA, the best way to watch a meteor shower is to get out of the city, away from urban light pollution, to the darkest location you can find. A good option is a Dark Sky Place or a location that appears dark on a light pollution map. Allow at least 20-30 minutes for your eyes to adjust, and refrain from looking at your smartphone to allow your eyes to dark adapt. Have a wide, unobstructed view of the sky, a lawn chair or a blanket to lay down on, and do not try to use a telescope or binoculars — a rookie error that will hugely restrict your view. Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes.
