Sun's Magnetic Field Likely Originates Near Surface, Study Finds

Scientists have discovered that the sun's magnetic field likely originates from instabilities in the plasma across the outermost layers of the solar surface, rather than deep within the star. This finding, based on complex computer simulations and helioseismology data, could improve predictions of solar flares and storms, which can impact Earth's technology and infrastructure. The study, published in Nature, challenges the prevailing focus on deep solar dynamo action and suggests that surface perturbations play a crucial role in magnetic field formation.