Latest about solar maximum
3rd X-class solar flare in 24 hours is the most powerful for 6 years — and it may not be the last
A hyperactive sunspot recently unleashed its third X-class flare in under 24 hours. The X6 flare is the most powerful since 2017 and could be followed by equally massive explosions.
Near-simultaneous solar flares explode from opposite sides of the sun in extremely rare event
A pair of linked solar flares recently exploded near-simultaneously from sunspots on different hemispheres of our home star, triggering radio blackouts on Earth.
Monstrous X5 solar flare launched on New Year's Eve could bring auroras to Earth tonight
In the final hours of Dec. 31, 2023, the sun launched its most powerful solar flare in 6 years. On Jan. 2, radiation from the blast may bring auroras to Earth's skies.
Live Science's top investigative stories of 2023
In 2023, Live Science reporters took a deeper look into the first Americans, killer whales and the sun's explosive peak.
10 solar storms that blew us away in 2023
The sun has been spitting out more frequent and intense solar storms this year as it approaches solar maximum. Here are some of the biggest.
10 scorching-hot discoveries made about the sun in 2023
From a surprisingly active solar cycle to finding evidence of ancient superflares and solar auroras, here are the most exciting discoveries about the sun made this year.
Monster X-class flare is most powerful solar eruption since 2017, could trigger auroras and major geomagnetic storms
On Dec. 14, a 2.8 magnitude X-class flare exploded from the sun, triggering radio blackouts on Earth and unleashing a CME that could also hit our planet in the next few days. It is the most powerful solar flare in more than six years.
'Almost unbelievable': Rare void from the sun briefly blew up Mars' atmosphere last year, and it could happen to Earth too
On Dec. 26, 2022, NASA's MAVEN Orbiter witnessed Mars' magnetic shield and atmosphere drastically "balloon" outward by thousands of miles. The sudden expansion was triggered by a rare gap in solar wind.
Gigantic 'hole' in the sun wider than 60 Earths is spewing superfast solar wind right at us
A monstrous dark patch, known as a coronal hole, recently appeared near the sun's equator. The temporary gap enables unusually fast solar wind to race toward Earth.
'Cannibal' solar explosion likely to hit Earth today, bringing strong geomagnetic storm and widespread auroras
A recent solar explosion that almost reached "X-class" status has hurled a massive coronal mass ejection toward Earth, which will likely hit our planet and trigger a geomagnetic storm on Dec. 1.
