Sun-Scraping Probe Helps Investigate Decades-Old Mystery

Bottom line: Scientists have spent decades trying to understand why the Sun's outer atmosphere is vastly hotter than its surface. Solving this mystery is one of the primary goals of the Parker Solar Probe, a spacecraft designed to approach the Sun closer than any other human-made object. Recent data from the mission has ruled out one popular theory.

Scientists have long detected superheated and ionized iron in the Sun's rays. However, heating this element to such a degree requires temperatures exceeding two million degrees Fahrenheit, which suggests that the corona – the Sun's upper atmosphere – is over 200 times hotter than the 10,000 degrees detected at its surface. This paradox, known as the "Coronal Heating Problem," has been a central topic of debate in solar science.

In 2018, NASA launched the Parker Solar Probe to investigate this and other questions. Designed to withstand extremely close encounters with the Sun, the probe entered the Sun's atmosphere in 2021 and has since been transmitting the most precise solar measurements ever recorded.

The study, conducted by the University of Michigan, establishes that switchbacks aren't generated within the corona, likely shifting scientists' focus toward other potential explanations for the coronal heating mystery.

The outer atmosphere of the sun or "corona" being much hotter than its surface has puzzled scientists for a long time.

It's incredible that the Parker Solar Probe is helping to unravel this mystery by getting closer to the Sun than any spacecraft before it.

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Fabulous exploration.

switchbacks aren't generated within the corona?

Doesn't that make the whole theory they have kind of wrong being it is sort of the basis of how they think it works?

Does it actually say in the article what the real temperature they measured is?

Sounds more like the electric universe theory might be possibly a little more looked at by these guys to see if they can figure out if some of it might be more relevant.

They will probably not acknowledge they were wrong if they were, they will try to say the evidence is wrong because they have all the knowledge and prestige to make it happen. Belief in the knowledge that is held and accepted as real is the basis of consensus of the time in science. Physics is usually a little better than other branches of science but if they were wrong about something major it would effect future funding of their research.

a reply to: rickymouse

One theory suggests that turbulence beyond the corona could affect the magnetic field. Meanwhile, some scientists believe that explosions called nanoflares – smaller versions of solar flares – might be responsible for coronal heating.

It's been shown that switchbacks aren't generated within the Corona.

Which could indeed challenge some assumptions about how the corona and solar wind work.

Theories evolve as new data becomes available, which is a strength of the scientific method rickymouse.

The findings about switchbacks and solar temperatures challenge existing theories, but it does not invalidate them entirely.

As to the Electric Universe aspect, i certainly would not go that far.

Looks like nanoflares might be responsible, which is still rather interesting to say the least.

Scientists, pfft, I've sh#t em. Would someone kindly like to contact them and ask them to look at a blowtorch. Ask any plumber, when using a blowtorch, where is the hottest part of the flame. Hint, it aint down where the gas comes out.

a reply to: crayzeed

Without science and technology, the probe would never have been.

Which is something to consider.

The analogy of a blowtorch’s hottest part of the flame being above the base(the inner cone) is useful as an illustration.

But it's important to recognise that a blowtorch and the Sun are vastly different systems.

a reply to: andy06shake

Its staggering to think that a man made object could travel so far, penetrate the Sun's outer atmosphere, withstand the intense heat and still send home useable data.

Its also quite clear there is much we don't know about the fundamental workings of our Sun.

a reply to: Freeborn

It is indeed and quite the feat of engineering considering the distance from Earth and the operational environment.

That's why it's important that we send probes, because the Sun remains the source of many mysteries.

Despite being the most studied star in the universe.