For some years now, an unorthodox idea has
been gaining favor among astronomers. It contradicts old teachings
and unsettles thoughtful observers, especially climatologists.
"The
sun," explains Lika Guhathakurta of NASA headquarters
in Washington DC, "is a variable star."
But
it looks so constant...
That's
only a limitation of the human eye. Modern telescopes and
spacecraft have penetrated the sun's blinding glare and found
a maelstrom of unpredictable turmoil. Solar flares explode
with the power of a billion atomic bombs. Clouds of magnetized
gas (CMEs) big enough to swallow planets break away from the
stellar surface. Holes in the sun's atmosphere spew million
mile-per-hour gusts of solar wind.