The Sun, a celestial --- of unyielding fascination, harbors a profound enigma that has long puzzled scientists. At its core, a nuclear fusion reactor of epic proportions liberates energy, powering the star. However, it is the Sun's outer atmosphere, the corona, that presents the most baffling mystery. With temperatures soaring to millions of degrees, the corona far exceeds the heat of the Sun's surface, which shines at a scorching 6000°C. This phenomenon defies a fundamental law of physics, leaving scientists to ponder the source of the extra energy that fuels the corona. Dr. Miho Janvier, a solar physicist from the European Space Agency, describes it as "very strange," noting that, typically, distance from a heat source corresponds to a decrease in temperature. The Sun's corona, however, behaves in a manner that contradicts this principle. Researchers are driven to unravel this mystery, as understanding the corona's heating mechanism may hold the key to protecting technology and astronauts from the devastating effects of space weather. The stakes are high, with gigantic storms of radiation and energy occasionally bursting from the Sun and colliding with planets, including Earth. According to BBC Science Focus Magazine, this puzzle has significant implications for our comprehension of the Sun's behavior ← →
But our nearest star also provides us with what is literally the biggest mystery in the Solar System, spanning millions of miles.Other references and insights: Check here
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