The sun's movements have been changing mysteriously for 40 years

It turned out that radiation measurements taken from the Sun's surface did not fully reflect the true history of the star. By studying the internal noises deep inside Earth's closest star, astronomers have uncovered the enormous changes that have taken place over the past 40 years.

Experts say the results suggest the sun has switched to a completely different behavioral mode. The research, led by astrophysicist Bill Chaplin of the University of Birmingham, proved that there are systematic changes in the cycle of solar activity. According to the research, with each new cycle, magnetic activity is trapped in areas closer to the surface.

Giant thermonuclear bell inside the sun

Under normal conditions, the sun moves in an 11-year cycle. The Sun enters a stormy period during maximum periods that follow calm minimum periods; Violent explosions occur, endangering satellites, GPS lines and power grids. Due to the Sun's rotating plasma structure, its poles flip every 11 years.

However, a strong weakening of this general function has been observed in recent cycles. Scientists examined seismic data collected since 1987 to unravel the mystery behind this mysterious slowdown. Thanks to the BiSON network, which consists of six different observatories around the world, the vibrations created by sound waves inside the Sun could be heard, like the ringing of a giant thermonuclear bell.

Calm on the surface, strong in the depths

Deep analysis showed that activity on the Sun's surface remained weak as expected, but high-frequency oscillations inside were quite strong, as in the past. This shows that magnetic mobility and structural changes are limited to a shallow region about a thousand kilometers below the surface. Sarbani Basu, an astronomer at Yale University, states that the relationship between internal vibrations and surface activity has fully evolved in recent cycles.

Experts emphasize that this situation cannot be explained only by weak magnetic fields and that there is a radical structural restructuring process in the way magnetic energy is stored in the lower layers of the Sun. The new cycle, which begins around 2030, will show whether this trend is permanent or not.

Fully resolving this structural change at the heart of the Sun will enable more accurate space weather forecasts, which are critical to protecting Earth's technological infrastructure.