Space Weather, Solar Flares & Sun Storms: Latest News
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Latest about space weather
![Spectacular auroras over Alaska on Valentine's Day 2023.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/5xjHmJryvLZen8WzXWNSYH-320-80.jpg)
Powerful sun storm could supercharge auroras this week
By Stefanie Waldek published
The sun fired a huge cloud of plasma directly at Earth on Sunday evening (May 7), an outburst that could boost auroras in the next day or so.
![green and purple ribbons of light fill the sky and a bright white streak of a meteor is visible in the center of the image.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/MHDxUy2sdFruqoRmvpHbgj-320-80.jpg)
Severe solar storm slams into Earth and sparks stunning auroras around the world (photos)
By Daisy Dobrijevic published
Dazzling aurora displays — triggered by a severe solar storm — have been seen around the world. We take a look at some of the best photos here.
![The sun's spotty face photographed in July 2009 by NASA's Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO).](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/BdPMS8xpzsW8E8zzykuuTZ-320-80.jpg)
Solar activity may peak 1 year earlier than thought. Here is what it means for us
By Tereza Pultarova published
The sun may reach the peak of its current solar cycle in 2024, one year ahead of official predictions, new research reveals. But solar mayhem may still occur in the next five years.
![A deep red hue image with a bright strand of light on the left.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/qrguLZUvikCYhqVsTnUg33-320-80.jpg)
Lab-grown solar flares reveal secrets of the sun's coronal loops
By Robert Lea published
Mini solar flares created in the lab could improve our understanding of coronal loops and the high-energy emissions from the sun that can threaten communication and power systems on Earth.
![Orange sun with black sunspots on the surface.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/yTpsCSAZA5YRtoKAco7Ft5-320-80.jpg)
Sunspots: What are they, and why do they occur?
By Daisy Dobrijevic last updated
Reference Sunspots are cooler, planet-size regions of strong magnetic fields on the surface of the sun. Explore sunspots in more detail with our comprehensive guide.
![A full-disk view of the sun as it unleashed a major X1.1 class solar flare from an active sunspot cluster on April 17, 2022. This view was taken by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VMsoDPnCYWFvPYAu8SBsoc-320-80.jpg)
This new AI-powered computer model can predict dangerous solar storms
By Stefanie Waldek published
A new AI-powered computer model is trained to predict when and where solar storms will strike Earth, giving us time to prepare infrastructure that could be impacted, such as the power grid.
![An X-flare seen flashing on the sun by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/coNeJAfbXupbWpU9XEVpf9-320-80.jpg)
'Hole' in the sun and powerful X1.2 solar flare threaten space weather mayhem
By Tereza Pultarova published
A powerful solar flare knocked out radio communications on Earth last night in what space weather forecasters fear might be the beginning of a spell of rough space weather in the coming days.
![Buoyancy waves often leave "ripples" in clouds like those seen over the Pacific Ocean in this image from NASA’s Terra satellite captured on Oct. 4, 2020.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/kmcEVZDCPYm3xLbLTDw3rU-320-80.jpeg)
NASA rockets search for hurricane-like swirls at the edge of space
By Robert Lea published
A pioneering new experiment uses rockets to study hurricane-like swirls near where Earth's atmosphere meets space.
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