Solar flares are much hotter than previously thought say scientists

New research found that flare ions are 6.5 times hotter than previously thought

Researchers from the University of St Andrews have made a new discovery.

They believe that tiny particles in solar flares—big bursts of energy on the Sun—are much hotter than anyone previously believed.

In their latest published research, scientists from the university argue that solar flare ions can reach temperatures up to 60 million degrees.

That is 6.5 times hotter than previously thought.

What is a solar flare?

Solar flares are electromagnetic radiation that travel from the Sun at the speed of light, reaching Earth in just over eight minutes.

Basically, they are sudden bursts of energy from the Sun's atmosphere that send radiation towards Earth.

This can increase solar x-rays and radiation reaching Earth and are hazardous to spacecraft and astronauts, as well as affecting our planet's upper atmosphere.

The new study showed that some particles called ions, get even hotter than the others.

Scientist Dr. Alexander Russell and his team found out that a special process called "magnetic reconnection" heat these ions much more than other particles.

This new discovery came as a surprise because people used to think all particles in the flare had the same temperature.