Between 1988 and 2008, our sun experienced an unusual decline in solar activity, described by scientists as one of the weakest periods in recent history. Its solar wind—the continuous stream of charged particles emitted by the sun—gradually weakened, marking a trend that puzzled researchers who expected it to enter a prolonged low-activity phase.
However, a recent study published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters revealed a surprising reversal since 2008: the sun is “slowly waking up.” Measurements show that by 2025, solar wind speed has increased by 6%, density surged 26%, and temperature rose by nearly 30%. Additionally, magnetic field strength and energy levels in the wind have grown by over 30%.
Lead author Jamie Jasinski, a plasma physicist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, expressed his astonishment at these findings, noting that all signs pointed to continued decline. The sun’s resurgence could have profound impacts on Earth’s technology and environment.
Heightened solar activity may cause powerful solar flares and coronal mass ejections, which interfere with satellite operations, GPS accuracy, radio signals, and even power grids. At the same time, such phenomena can produce breathtaking auroras in the northern and southern hemispheres.
Historical records show similar mysterious quiet periods lasting decades, such as from 1790 to 1830, but scientists still don’t fully understand why the sun undergoes these prolonged cycles. The coming years of increased solar activity pose important questions for future space weather monitoring and preparedness.
