Editor's Summary
25 May 2006
The rising sun
In March 2006, a group at the National Center for Atmospheric Research observatory in Colorado led by Mausumi Dikpati forecast the strength and timing of the next solar cycle based on solar physics. The simulations use the controversial mean field dynamo theory so the forecast — that the cycle will begin in late 2007 and be 30–50% stronger than the last one — will be a stern test of the theory. Not only physicists will be watching anxiously: solar activity on this scale could damage orbiting satellites and severely disrupt telecommunications.
News Feature: The dark side of the Sun
The Sun occasionally hurls streams of particles towards Earth, where they can wreak havoc with satellites. Predicting these solar storms is hard, but some physicists believe we're about to face the biggest bout of solar flares in years. Stuart Clark reports.
doi:10.1038/441402a