News Astronomy

X-rays offer early warning for solar flares

Radiation signals ultimate intensity of explosive outbursts, analysis finds

solar flare

FLARE UP  X-rays blasted from the sun can divulge the intensity of an upcoming solar flare, like the one shown here, new research shows.

AIA/SDO/GODDARD SPACE FLIGHT CENTER/NASA

By Thomas Sumner

- More than 2 years ago

Outpourings of X-rays can reveal when the sun is prepping a big outburst, new research suggests.

Researchers analyzed the X-rays shot out by the sun before and during roughly 50,000 solar explosions, called flares.