Massive Solar Wind Blast Threatens Earth as Gaping Hole in Sun Expands

A massive coronal hole on the Sun, over five times larger than Jupiter, has been unleashing a powerful solar wind that recently directed a stream of particles towards Earth, resulting in a mild solar storm. This hole is part of the Sun's activity cycle, which includes sunspots, solar flares, and coronal mass ejections. As we approach solar maximum in 2024, the Sun's magnetic field will reverse polarity. While the current solar cycle has been stronger than expected, the maximum sunspot number is predicted to be below average.