Solar fury.The sun has been looking very spotty lately. For the last 60 years, the gaseous star has been experiencing an unusually long and severe outbreak of sunspots sunspots, dark, usually irregularly shaped spots on the sun's surface that are actually solar magnetic storms. The Chinese recorded dark features on the sun seen with the naked eye in 28 B.C. , or cooler areas on the sun's surface. Scientists at Germany's Max Planck Institute calculated that the last time the sun was as frequently covered with these highly magnetic splotches was 8,000 years ago. "No one knows why the sun has been so active," says David Hathaway, a NASA NASA: see National Aeronautics and Space Administration. NASA in full National Aeronautics and Space Administration Independent U.S. astronomer. "We don't even fully understand why the sun spots." So why track the odd dots? Whenever sunspots appear, they trigger solar flares that can cause problems on Earth. "[Solar flares] are tremendous explosions near the sun's surface," explains Hathaway. The blasts hurl enormous amounts of invisible radiation (form of high-energy waves or particles) toward Earth. This radiation is so potent that it could harm objects in its path; the radiation could even kilt kilt Knee-length, skirtlike garment worn by men as part of the traditional national garb, or Highland dress, of Scotland. It is made of permanently pleated wool and wrapped around the wearer's waist so that the pleats are in the back and the flat ends overlap in front. human cells. "Luckily, we're protected [from the radiation] by the atmosphere (protective layer of gas surrounding Earth)," says Hathaway. Not so lucky, are the scantily scant·y adj. scant·i·er, scant·i·est 1. Barely sufficient or adequate. 2. Insufficient, as in extent or degree. scant shielded objects circling high above Earth: Satellites can be damaged, disrupting cell-phone service. Also at risk: high-flying astronauts. By tracking sunspots, scientists can warn the astronauts to take special cover. FIREBALL fireball, very bright meteor leaving a trail in the sky that can remain visible for several minutes; often a distinct sound, perhaps caused by very low frequency radio waves, is associated with it. : The bright areas on the sun are solar flares, or tremendous explosions near the sun's surface. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] |
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