Space
The solar corona finally reveals its hottest secret by wired.com
The sun is the closest star to us and has been studied by scientists for centuries. However, one fundamental question remained unanswered until recently: why is the solar corona, or the sun's outer atmosphere, several million degrees hotter than its surface? To solve this mystery, NASA's Parker Solar Probe spacecraft was launched in 2018 to approach the sun closer than ever before.
Data collected by the probe showed that small-scale magnetic activity in the solar atmosphere is responsible for the corona's heat. Magnetic fields concentrate at the edges of the giant convective cells that cover the sun's surface, where they are amplified and can interact with the solar plasma. This interaction can produce transient jets and nanoflares, which release energy and heat the solar atmosphere.
This discovery has helped us better understand how the sun works and opened up new perspectives for studying stars in general. The Parker Solar Probe mission is ongoing, collecting valuable data on our star and its environment. The discoveries made through this revolutionary mission will undoubtedly continue to fascinate and inspire scientists and the public for years to come.
