A "heartbeat" has been discovered in the Sun that could affect Earth

Astronomers have detected changes in the Sun's internal "rhythm," which may indicate a major restructuring of magnetic processes inside the star and could affect the understanding of space weather.

As reported by BAKU.WS with reference to a study published in the journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, scientists from the University of Birmingham studied oscillations inside the Sun using the method of helioseismology. This approach allows analyzing sound waves passing through the interior of the star and revealing hidden processes.

International researchers processed data from the BiSON telescope network, collected in the period from 1987 to 2025. The analysis showed that starting approximately from the 23rd solar cycle, the relationship between internal oscillations and external signs of activity began to change.

According to the lead author of the study, Professor Bill Chaplin, the Sun's magnetic activity is increasingly concentrated in a thin layer beneath the photosphere. This may mean that our star is gradually transitioning to a new mode of behavior.

Scientists note that the Sun's internal processes turned out to be more complex than previously thought. Since solar activity affects geomagnetic storms and the state of near-Earth space, further observations will help more accurately forecast space weather and determine whether the detected changes are temporary or the beginning of a new stage in the Sun's evolution.