A composite of 25 images of the Sun, showing solar outburst/activity over a 365 day period. Without the right amount of nuclear fusion, which is made possible through quantum mechanics, none of what we recognize as life on Earth would be possible. (NASA / SOLAR DYNAMICS OBSERVATORY / ATMOSPHERIC IMAGING ASSEMBLY / S. WIESSINGER; POST-PROCESSING BY E. SIEGEL)

Our Sun Is Lighter Than Ever, And The Problem Is Getting Worse

Stars don’t stay the same throughout their life, and the Sun is no exception. Here’s what’s going on.

Ethan Siegel
Sep 4, 2018 · 7 min read

Here on Earth, the ingredients for life to survive, thrive, evolve, and sustain itself on our world have all coexisted without fail for billions of years. In addition to all the atoms and…

You’ll also discover more fresh thinking personalized to your interests and can follow your favorite authors, publications, and topics.
Or, continue in mobile web
Already have an account? Sign in

Medium is an open platform where 170 million readers come to find insightful and dynamic thinking. Here, expert and undiscovered voices alike dive into the heart of any topic and bring new ideas to the surface. Learn more

Follow the writers, publications, and topics that matter to you, and you’ll see them on your homepage and in your inbox. Explore

If you have a story to tell, knowledge to share, or a perspective to offer — welcome home. It’s easy and free to post your thinking on any topic. Write on Medium

Get the Medium app

A button that says 'Download on the App Store', and if clicked it will lead you to the iOS App store
A button that says 'Get it on, Google Play', and if clicked it will lead you to the Google Play store