Uncovering the Sun’s Most Magnetic Secrets
In Uncovering the Sun’s Most Magnetic Secrets, narrator Richard Hammond explains how the Sun gives us warmth and light, but up close, it's a raging fireball that can unleash powerful solar storms, disrupting electricity and communication on Earth. To understand these storms, scientists launched the world’s most powerful solar telescope using a helium balloon and sending it 23 miles into the sky. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Invisible Worlds, which uncovers the hidden forces and unseen phenomena shaping our world.
Lesson Express
Q: What does the discovery about the Sun’s magnetic forces tell us about the Sun’s activity and solar storms?
A: The discovery shows that the strongest magnetic forces on the Sun are not in its dark spots but in the bubbling plasma crevices. This new information can help scientists better understand where solar storms come from and why they occur.
Q: Why do you think scientists chose to launch the solar telescope using a helium balloon instead of a traditional rocket?
A: Scientists likely chose a helium balloon because it allows the telescope to slowly and safely rise into the atmosphere, giving them a controlled and stable way to gather data from the Sun perhaps without the risk of a rocket’s turbulence.
Q: How might understanding the Sun’s magnetic forces help scientists protect Earth from solar storms?
A: By studying the Sun’s magnetic forces, scientists can better predict when solar storms might occur, which could help protect Earth’s electrical and communication systems from damage caused by these storms.
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