A unique solar explosion has scientists stunned and excited

bgrpro65 juin 09, 2021

The Sun is one of the big reasons why we're all here today. Without it, life likely wouldn't have taken root on Earth — or, at the very least, the type of life that covers our planet today simply wouldn't have been possible. That said, there's still a lot we don't know about our star and, more importantly, the threats that it may pose when it starts to throw its tantrums. Now, a very interesting stellar explosion has given researchers a glimpse at the underlying mechanisms that power the Sun's frequent eruptions.

Stellar outbursts are common. These events present themselves as rapid releases of energy, often flinging charged particles into space and, at times, at planets including our own. We know they exist and we've seen them in action, but the events that unfold on the surface of the Sun are only the final result of underlying processes that aren't well-understood. This newest observation is different in that it was a clear multi-stage eruption with three distinct steps. This, NASA says, could help scientists better understand how these solar outbursts occur.