NASA states the sun is 'waking up' and they are uncertain about the reason

The sun is emerging again... as per a new study, but this might have consequences

NASA reports that the sun is 'waking up', potentially leading to significant problems on Earth.

From 1988 to 2008, the sun experienced a significant lull... though it likely went unnoticed by most.

During that time, its solar wind, a constant stream of charged particles it sends throughout the solar system, became noticeably weaker.

Solar activity follows an 11-year cycle, and its intensity gradually decreased from the 1980s until around 2008, indicating a long-term weakening trend over several solar cycles during that time.

In fact, Solar Cycle 24, which began in 2008, was the weakest solar cycle since we started monitoring space weather.

However, since then, the sun has certainly become more active, as scientists measuring solar wind at Earth's distance—about 93 million miles away—have observed a significant resurgence.

Between 2008 and 2025, significant changes have occurred: The speed of the solar wind has increased by six percent, its density has risen by 26 percent, its temperature has surged by 29 percent, and both the pressure and energy in the wind have grown by 30 to 45 percent. Additionally, the sun’s magnetic field has expanded by over 30 percent.

This information comes from a recent study published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters.

"All indications suggested that the sun was entering a prolonged period of low activity,” stated lead author Jamie Jasinski from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in southern California.

“Therefore, it was surprising to observe this trend reversing. The sun is gradually becoming more active.”

This increase in solar activity can greatly impact Earth, especially through events like solar flares and coronal mass ejections.

These occurrences are known to disrupt communication systems, leading to radio signal interruptions, satellite damage, GPS errors, and even widespread electrical grid disturbances.

On the positive side, when the sun releases high-energy charged particles during such events, they can interact with Earth’s magnetic field and upper atmosphere, creating stunning auroral displays in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.

Scientists have been observing the sun’s activity for centuries, with historical records documenting an extended period of unusual calm between 1790 and 1830, one of the most notable anomalies observed so far.

“We don’t really know why the sun entered a 40-year minimum starting in 1790,” Dr. Jasinski said.

“The longer-term trends are much less predictable and are something we don’t fully understand yet.”