Snake-like magnetic fields on the sun bring scientists closer to solving a major solar mystery
Scientists have observed snake-like magnetic fields on the sun for the first time, which could bring them a step closer to solving one of the biggest mysteries in solar physics: why the sun's outer atmosphere is so much hotter than its lower layers.
The sun's corona, its outermost layer, is millions of degrees Celsius hotter than the surface. This is a paradox, because the sun's atmosphere is expected to cool as it moves away from the heat source at the core.
Scientists have proposed a number of theories to explain this mystery, but none of them have been fully successful. One theory is that the sun's magnetic field plays a role in heating the corona.
The new observations of snake-like magnetic fields on the sun support this theory. The snake-like fields are complex and dynamic, and they could be transporting energy from the sun's surface to the corona.
The observations were made using the Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope (DKIST) in Hawaii. DKIST is the most powerful solar telescope in the world, and it can see the sun's magnetic field in unprecedented detail.
The scientists who made the observations say that the snake-like magnetic fields are a new and important piece of the puzzle in understanding how the sun's corona is heated. They say that further study of these fields could lead to a complete solution to the mystery.
In addition to solving the mystery of the corona's heat, the observations of snake-like magnetic fields could also help scientists to better understand other solar phenomena, such as solar flares and coronal mass ejections. These phenomena can have a significant impact on Earth's space environment and climate.
The discovery of snake-like magnetic fields on the sun is an exciting new development in solar physics. It is a reminder that we still have much to learn about our star, and that new discoveries are waiting to be made.