Scientists tackle a burning question: When will our quiet sun turn violent?
For all of February the sun is nearly spotless, a smooth circle filled in with a goldenrod crayon. SCIENCEMAG.ORG It has been more than a decade since it was so lacking in sunspots—dark magnetic knots as big as Earth that are a barometer of the sun’s temperament. Below the surface, however, a radical transition is afoot. In 5 years or so, the sun will be awash in sunspots and more prone to violent bursts of magnetic activity. Then, about 11 years from now, the solar cycle will conclude: Sunspots will…
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