Scientists have discovered that the Sun is behaving in unexpected ways after analysing its internal 'heartbeat'. A new study suggests that the Sun's internal rhythm has changed over the past 40 years, which could affect space weather and life on Earth.
The Sun follows an 11-year cycle of activity, from quiet to stormy periods. During active phases, it releases solar flares and particle ejections that can cause dangerous solar storms. However, researchers have found that the Sun may be entering a 'different mode of behaviour' beyond this usual cycle.
By listening to tiny sound waves inside the Sun, scientists detected long-term structural changes. Lead author Bill Chaplin from the University of Birmingham said: 'The Sun has its own active biorhythm... traditional surface measures don't capture the full story – that the Sun may be entering a different mode of behaviour unfolding over decades.'
The study indicates that solar magnetic activity is becoming confined to a shallower layer just below the visible surface. 'We have uncovered evidence of systematic changes in the solar activity cycle. Crucially, magnetic activity is becoming more tightly confined near the surface with each cycle,' Chaplin added.
Co-author Sarbani Basu from Yale University noted: 'We discovered that the relationship between internal solar oscillations and surface activity has evolved... This trend cannot be explained simply by weaker magnetic fields. Instead, it indicates a structural reorganisation of how the Sun's magnetic activity is stored beneath the surface.'
The researchers call for urgent study to understand these changes and their implications for space weather forecasting.
