NASA reveals secrets of the Solar Wind-take a bow Parker Solar Probe!

tech.hindustantimes.com:

NASA sent the Parker Solar Probe on a daring mission to study the Sun's outermost atmosphere, known as the corona, and since then, scientists have made it reveal secrets about the solar wind that impacts the Earth in various ways. Solar wind is a continuous flow of charged particles called plasma, which is released from the Sun's corona out into space. Parker Solar Probe spacecraft, operated by NASA, was launched in 2018 with the primary objective of investigating the Solar Wind and its impact on Earth.

In a recent study published in Nature, researchers unveiled new insights into the Solar Wind based on data collected by the Parker Solar Probe, as reported by VOA English Learning. The spacecraft made history in 2021 by entering the Sun's Corona for the first time, reaching a distance as near as approximately 13 million kilometers from the Sun's core. The data revealed that solar wind can reach astonishing speeds of up to 1.6 million kilometers per hour. It also confirmed that solar wind creates a vast magnetic barrier called the heliosphere, which shields Earth and other planets from the sun's high-energy particles.

The study's findings shed light on the source of solar wind. Previous research had established that the sun's magnetic field played a role, but this study identified the openings in the sun's corona as the specific source. The data suggested that the particles are expelled through these openings, resembling water jets from a showerhead.

The Sun releases a lot of energy in various forms and this can wreak havoc on Earth in the form of solar storms. Understanding this is vital for preparing for solar storms that can impact our planet. Intense solar activity can trigger solar flares, resulting in explosive