Sun's south pole revealed for first time, in images from Solar Orbiter spacecraft

The sun's uncharted south pole has been revealed for the first time in striking images beamed back from the Solar Orbiter spacecraft.
The joint European Space Agency (ESA) and Nasa mission swooped below the planetary plane and, for the first time, captured the sun's mysterious polar regions. The groundbreaking observations also mapped a chaotic patchwork of magnetic activity at the sun's pole that scientists say is key to understanding how the sun's field flips roughly every 11 years.
'Today we reveal humankind's first-ever views of the sun's pole,' said Prof Carole Mundell, the ESA's director of science. 'The sun is our nearest star, giver of life and potential disruptor of modern space and ground power systems, so it is imperative that we understand how it works and learn to predict its behaviour. These new unique views from our Solar Orbiter mission are the beginning of a new era of solar science.'
The $1.3bn mission, which launched in 2020, shows the sun's south pole as recorded mid-March, when the craft had dipped to an angle of 15° below the solar equator to perform the mission's first high-angle observations. While the Earth – like a bar magnet – has a clear north and south, the sun's magnetism flips roughly every 11 years. The sun is currently at a solar maximum, the period when it builds up to a polarity flip, in which the south pole will become magnetic north and when sun spots and solar flares are most active.
Solar Orbiter's first magnetic field measurements reveal a fragmented mosaic of both north and south polarity at the base of the sun. This patchwork of north and south had been predicted in computer models, but had never been confirmed in observations. Scientists say that tracking the dramatic changes in the sun's polar magnetic fields will be crucial to improving forecasting of the solar cycle.
'We didn't know what exactly to expect from these first observations – the sun's poles are literally terra incognita,' said Prof Sami Solanki, who leads the instrument mapping the magnetic field and is based at the Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research (MPS) in Germany.
The sun's magnetic cycle occurs because it does not rotate as a solid object, with its equator spinning faster (every 26 days) than its poles (33 days). This stretches and twists magnetic field lines around the sun until they become so unstable that north and south eventually flip.
Prof Lucie Green, of UCL's Mullard Space Science Laboratory, who has worked on the mission since 2005, said: 'Everything in the atmosphere of the sun and whole character of the sun is generated by its magnetic field and how that changes over time. It goes from being a fairly quiet star to being really active and dynamic star with explosions in the atmosphere. Although the models predicted that the field should be mixed up, it's something else to actually see it.'
In five or six years, the sun will reach its next solar minimum, during which its magnetic field is at its most orderly and the sun has the lowest levels of activity. Current models and predictions of the 11-year solar cycle fall short of being able to predict exactly when and how powerfully the sun will reach its most active state.
The only previous mission to have flown above the sun's poles was Nasa's Ulysses probe, launched in 1990, but while it took measurements of the sun's magnetic field and solar wind, it did not have a camera. Solar Orbiter will continue to orbit around the Sun at a 17° tilt angle until 24 December 2026, when its next flight past Venus will tilt its orbit to 24° and in 2029, the spacecraft will rise to an angle of 33° above the planetary plane.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

The Sun

38 minutes ago

• The Sun

Weekly nightmares ‘triple the risk of an early death' as scientists reveal what to do NOW

PEOPLE who suffer from weekly nightmares could be at higher risk of early death, researchers have warned. Adults who reported weekly nightmares were over three times more likely to die before the age of 70, compared to those who rarely or never had them, they found. 1 Researchers said night terrors were a 'stronger predictor of premature death' than other established risk factors, such as smoking, obesity, unhealthy diets and lack of exercise. They also linked frequent nightmares to accelerated biological ageing. Off the back of their findings, researchers shared "simple measures" to prevent nightmares - including "avoiding scary movies", setting up a good bedtime routine and keeping stress under control. The team - led by Dr Abidemi Otaiku of the UK Dementia Research Institute, and Imperial College London - analysed data from 2,429 children aged eight to 10 and 183,012 adults aged 26 to 86 over a period of 19 years. Adults were asked to report how often they experienced nightmares at the start of the study, while the parents of child participants reported how often their little ones suffered night terrors. Meanwhile, participants' biological age was assessed by measuring the length of their telomeres – small DNA sequences that serve as indicators of cellular ageing. The research, which was presented at the European Academy of Neurology (EAN) Congress this month, found that nightmares disrupt both sleep quality and duration. This impairs the body's ability to repair itself and restore cells throughout the night. Dr Otaiku said: 'Our sleeping brains cannot distinguish dreams from reality. 'That's why nightmares often wake us up sweating, gasping for breath, and with our hearts pounding – because our fight-or-flight response has been triggered. "This stress reaction can be even more intense than anything we experience while awake.' The combination of chronic stress and disrupted sleep likely speed up the ageing of our cells and bodies, study authors said. Results showed that adults who reported weekly nightmares were more than three times as likely to die prematurely - which researchers described as before the of age 70 - compared to those who rarely or never experienced nightmares. Children and adults with more frequent nightmares also exhibited faster biological ageing, which accounted for approximately 40 per cent of their heightened risk of death. Dr Otaiku added: 'Nightmares lead to prolonged elevations of cortisol, a stress hormone closely linked to faster cellular ageing. For those who frequently experience nightmares, this cumulative stress may significantly impact the ageing process. "Additionally, nightmares disrupt both sleep quality and duration, impairing the body's essential overnight cellular restoration and repair. "The combined effects of chronic stress and disrupted sleep likely contribute to the accelerated ageing of our cells and bodies.' Even monthly nightmares were linked to faster ageing and increased mortality compared to rare or no nightmares, study authors found. Tips to combat stress The Stress Management Society says . . . STAY CONNECTED. Look after your social wellbeing by staying in touch with others. Pick up the phone, talk, and ask for help. GET ENOUGH SLEEP. Set up a good bedtime routine and make your bedroom a tech-free zone. This will force you to switch off in this 'always on' world. PRIORITISE AND ORGANISE. Even if you work from home, try to keep work and personal space separate, create boundaries and prioritise the most important tasks for the start of the day. EAT HEALTHILY. Reduce sugar consumption to avoid energy crashes, avoid relying on stimulants such as caffeine and nicotine, and drink plenty of water to stay hydrated. SELF-CARE. Make time for things you enjoy and leave you feeling relaxed, whether it's mindfulness, reading, a walk, sport or watching TV. See The link between frequent nightmares and accelerated ageing was observed across all ages, sexes, ethnicities, and mental health conditions, which researchers said indicates a universal effect. The findings highlight the importance of reducing nightmare frequency across the population. 'The good news is that nightmares can be prevented and treated', Dr Otaiku said. 'Simple measures like avoiding scary movies, maintaining good sleep hygiene, managing stress, and seeking treatment for anxiety or depression can be effective. 'Those experiencing frequent nightmares that disrupt their quality of life may benefit from seeing a sleep specialist. "Effective psychological treatments, such as image rehearsal therapy, can be practised at home. "Recent research also suggests that therapies like CBT-I, which reduce nightmares, may significantly slow the ageing process', he added. Reflecting on the broader public health significance of these findings, Dr Otaiku stated: 'Given how common and modifiable nightmares are, they should be taken far more seriously as a public health concern. 'If further studies confirm the causal impact of nightmares on ageing and brain health, then preventing and treating them could become one of the simplest, most cost-effective strategies to slow ageing at a population level. "This would not only improve individual well-being but also help achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal of reducing premature death worldwide and promoting health for all.'

The Independent

2 hours ago

• The Independent

I drank kefir for a month and it made me feel like a superhuman – what's the secret behind this gut-friendly drink? (cloned)

While the plant-based revolution might have reduced the amount of lactose in our diets, certain dairy-based foods are making a comeback in the name of good health, and kefir is one of them. I used to think of kefir as one of those slightly icky health foods – probably incredibly good for you but mildly gross. Fermented yogurt? Not the sexiest foodstuff. So despite it being recommended by nutritionists, I eschewed kefir and opted for trendier foods and drinks like kombucha and kimchi instead. These other fermented foods were at least a step in the right direction, especially as new research suggests the health of our guts could be responsible for any number of complaints and maladies. One recent study found that the cure for clinical depression might lie in gut regulation, and another suggested we might sleep better if our gut bacteria were more stable. Foods and drinks that contain gut-friendly bacteria hold a lot of power and we're only just beginning to realise just how essential good gut health is for better long-term wellbeing. Nevertheless, a growing interest in the gut has led to a marketing boost for gut-friendly foods and, once again, kefir has appeared on my radar. 'Kefir is a cousin to yoghurt – the main difference being it contains more different strains of microbes. It's been around for thousands of years yet it's the rise in gut health over the last few years that has brought it back in vogue,' explains Dr Megan Rossi, who goes by The Gut Health Doctor. Dr Rossi continues: 'While there are limited clinical trials looking at the specific benefits, mechanistically it's thought to have added benefits to yoghurt given its high strain diversity and bacteria count. These include benefits with weight management, heart disease, plus a new study from Stanford University showed a high intake of fermented foods was linked with lower markers of inflammation.' One of the things I've become obsessed with in recent years is decreasing inflammation in my body and rolling back my biological age. I'm no Bryan Johnson, but I like to think I've done a pretty good job of this – a recent health scan showed my body's age to be five years younger than my actual age. So, given the reported health benefits of kefir and the fact that I was seeing it absolutely everywhere, I decided to give it a go. I drank kefir, which is high in natural probiotics like lacto and bifido bacterium, every day for 30 days, sipping two different brands in a variety of flavours – I tried natural kefir, kefir with added protein, honey and orange blossom kefir and strawberry to name but a few variations. Not only did I shock myself by absolutely loving the taste, I also loved the results. I had more energy, I felt fuller for longer after meals, my problematic hormonal skin looked better and I found myself looking forward to my morning glass. The skin might have been a red herring, but I was still pleased with how things were going. Dr Rossi recommends consuming 100-200mls of kefir daily, depending on the individual, and your desired outcome also dictates when you should drink it. If you're drinking it to aid digestion and improve your gut health, drinking it on an empty stomach is recommended. However, if you're drinking it as a snack or to improve satiety, after meals is the best time to have it. I opted for 100mls and drank it in the mornings before my breakfast. At this point, my morning routine is pretty detailed, what with all the other health drinks and supplements I take – I have water with electrolytes, a vanilla protein bone broth drink and a coffee with collagen powder, mushroom powder and MCT oil – so adding a small glass of kefir into the mix wasn't a tall order. At first I felt a little unsettled by the pale yogurt-like liquid and the smell of it. I didn't really enjoy the way it coated my tongue and it made the back of my throat feel unpleasant – they always say you should avoid dairy before public speaking for this exact reason. On one occasion I went to a health appointment and was asked to stick out my tongue. I panicked, thinking it would look weird because of all the kefir I'd drunk that morning – luckily I was told I had a very healthy-looking tongue. Of course, some people struggle more with just the slightly bizarre sensation of consuming a thick dairy drink. Those with dairy allergies should avoid dairy-based kefir and despite the fact that it contains low levels of lactose, those who are lactose intolerant should probably give it a miss too. Gut health factbox Experts explain how we can take better care of our gut and boost mood with the right foods 'You can get water kefir and dairy kefir,' Dr Rossi explains. 'Dairy kefir is made with milk and contains lactose, unlike water kefir which is made with sugary water. Generally speaking, homemade dairy kefir is thought to contain around 30 per cent less lactose as the fermentation process reduces some of the lactose present in standard milk.' If you want to avoid dairy altogether then water kefir is probably the way to go. Like kefir made from milk, it comes in a variety of forms and flavours and is suitable for vegans. Dr Rossi also adds that if you are immunocompromised or receiving cancer treatment it's not advised to make your own kefir at home, whether water or milk based, given the risk of contamination. Rather than making my own or drinking water kefir, I drank dairy Kefir from Biotiful and Bio&Me. Having tried plenty of other brands for my research into the best gut health drinks, these two were my favourites in terms of flavour, consistency and price. When it comes to separating a good quality kefir from a poorer quality one, Rossi recommends looking at the ingredient list. 'Sadly many brands are now adding sugars in the form of fruit extracts, versus using whole fruit, and others including new protein products have added sugar in the form of sucrose in them,' she explains. 'Many brands also include thickeners like pectin, which are unnecessary if you get the fermentation technique correct.' I've continued to drink a small glass of kefir each morning and it feels as though it's doing me good. A 2022 paper from the National Library of Medicine suggests that in several studies, kefir has been shown to, 'antagonise pathogens, reduce proinflammatory cytokine production, contribute to cytotoxicity of tumour cell lines and reduce tumour burden, and improve serum glycemic and lipid profiles.' This is high praise for a seemingly straightforward fermented drink. It's higher in protein than milk or traditional yogurt – Greek yogurt offers more protein per gram – and easy to get hold of as most supermarkets stock at least one brand and there are plenty to be found online. With gut health set to be one of the hottest topics in health and wellbeing this year, there's certainly no harm in trying kefir. The bacteria in a single serving could potentially support better digestion, improved immunity and lower inflammation in the body. Despite my initial hesitance to try it, I'm now a kefir convert and love the stuff.

The Independent

2 hours ago

• The Independent

Astronauts perplexed as long-dead Nasa space probe suddenly emits powerful energy blast

A long-dead experimental Nasa satellite suddenly emitted a powerful energy blast recently, leaving scientists perplexed. Astronomers at Australia's Curtin University discovered the strange pulse from the satellite, dead in space since the late 1960s, after recording a signal that briefly outshone everything else in the night sky. At first, they thought it was coming from a pulsar or another undiscovered cosmic object. But an analysis revealed the origin of the signal was too close to the Earth. 'The 4,500km distance to the burst suggests an Earth satellite as the origin,' they concluded in a yet-to-be peer-reviewed study. The 'incredibly powerful' energy blast could have been generated by the satellite colliding with a small meteoroid or a piece of space junk. The astronomers eventually traced the source of the pulse to Nasa 's Relay 2, an experimental satellite that was launched in 1964 and went dead three years later. They said electricity likely building up inside the craft for decades sparked an 'electrostatic discharge' when it collided with another object. 'We consider an electrostatic discharge or plasma discharge following a micrometeoroid impact to be plausible explanations for the burst,' they wrote in the study. Such charging of spacecraft from interactions with their space environment is well documented. It happens due to the accumulation of electrons and charged particles within spacecraft, leading to large voltage differentials between their surfaces and between the craft and space. 'Spacecraft primarily charge through the accumulation of electrons through interactions with plasma in the space environment,' they explained. 'When sufficient voltage is achieved, electrostatic discharge occurs, typically between nearby surfaces/materials on the spacecraft.' Energy released from such charged space probes was thought to last at least several microseconds. In the latest discovery, however, the high-energy discharge was sharp, lasting only a billionth of a second. 'We suggest that the burst originated from an electrostatic discharge event, or potentially a micrometeoroid impact, and consider that such events may be relatively common,' the astronomers concluded. They hoped future space probes and sky monitoring equipment could be 'appropriately retrofitted' to better detect such energy discharge events.