The Sun, the center of the solar system, is showing weird behavior lately, scientists claimed. According to The Independent's latest report, the researchers discovered an unexplained phenomenon--they had been studying the Sun's solar minimum. 

The weird activity of the Sun's surface is making some of the flaming giant's areas significantly hotter compared to other parts of it. The warmer regions called "radio brightenings" were found by the researchers at Metsahovi Radio Observatory on numerous areas of the gas giant.

There are three reasons why the weird phenomenon is happening, as explained by scientists. First, the heat is directed outwards through solar winds by the coronal holes located at the Sun's two poles. The second one suggests that the Sun is releasing molten material from its surface, causing the uneven hot areas.

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And lastly, some of the areas may have strong magnetic fields compared to others. You can check the latest stories here at TechTimes for more space theories and studies. 

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But, the researchers also found that there are also some areas where none of the three factors applied.

"The other sources used did not explain the cause of the brightening. We don't know what causes those phenomena. We must continue our research," said one of the scientists, Juha Kallunski.

What is the Sun's solar minimum?

The Sun's solar minimum is the study of the gas giant's period which its magnetic field is weakest. Scientists said that the new research findings revealed additional information about the weird activity happening on its surface.

A few research was conducted regarding the Sun's activity during its quieter moments since they believed that solar minimum was passive. Instead, scientists and other researchers focused on studying when the next active solar minimum would happen and how much impact it would cause.Researchers previously thought that the Sun's solar minimum happens every 11 years. However, their belief was changed because of the weird phenomenon.

"Solar activity cycles do not always last exactly 11 years, either," said one of the study's researchers, Merja Tornikoski."A new activity period will not be identified until it is already ongoing," added Merja.

The scientists were confused by the sudden change of the Sun's surface since each of the last solar minimums have also been weaker than the previous one. Solar Physics will soon publish the study's findings, which is considered the first one where astronomers and other scientists have been systematically studying the solar minimums.

For more studies about the mysteries in space, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes.

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Written by: Giuliano de Leon.

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