NASA Says The Sun Is 'Waking Up' But Scientists Admit They Don't Know Why

NASA scientists are now saying the sun appears to be 'waking up', and this change could spell serious consequences for our planet.

From 1988 until 2008, the sun went through what researchers describe as a noticeable slump. Most people on Earth wouldn’t have realized it, but scientists tracking space weather saw a steady decline.

During this time, the solar wind — which is essentially a constant stream of charged particles blasted outward by the sun — weakened dramatically, showing a sharp dip that lasted for two decades.

Normally, the sun’s behavior follows an 11-year cycle of ups and downs in activity. But from the 1980s through 2008, scientists noticed a clear pattern of decline. Across multiple solar cycles, the overall intensity of solar activity dropped steadily.

When Solar Cycle 24 began in 2008, it turned out to be the weakest cycle since scientists first began closely monitoring space weather events. Many thought the sun was heading into a long, quiet phase.

However, things have taken a surprising turn. Recent measurements taken from Earth’s distance — roughly 93 million miles from the sun — show the solar wind has bounced back in a dramatic way, signaling a strong comeback.

The Sun has certainly put its hat back on... according to a new study Getty stock

Between 2008 and 2025, scientists have recorded striking changes: the speed of the solar wind has risen by six percent, its density has increased by 26 percent, and the temperature of the wind has shot up by nearly 29 percent. Even more, the pressure and overall energy have surged by between 30 and 45 percent, while the sun’s magnetic field has strengthened by more than 30 percent.

All of these findings come from a new study published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters, giving researchers fresh insight into the sun’s shifting behavior.

"All signs were pointing to the sun going into a prolonged phase of low activity," lead author Jamie Jasinski from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in southern California explained.

"So it was a surprise to see that trend reversed. The sun is slowly waking up."

While this sudden burst of energy might sound exciting, it also raises concern. Increased solar activity brings with it the risk of more frequent solar flares and massive coronal mass ejections — both of which can directly impact Earth.

The sun is slowly waking up, claims NASA's Jamie Jasinski Getty stock

Such solar storms can wreak havoc on modern infrastructure. They’re capable of disrupting radio communications, damaging satellites, throwing off GPS accuracy, and even causing widespread power outages on electrical grids.

On the brighter side, these events can also produce dazzling natural displays. When the charged particles collide with Earth’s magnetic field and upper atmosphere, they create stunning auroras, lighting up the skies in both hemispheres with waves of color.

For centuries, scientists have been carefully recording the sun’s patterns. One of the most unusual stretches occurred between 1790 and 1830, when the sun went through about 40 years of strangely low activity — an event that still puzzles researchers today.

"We don't really know why the sun went through a 40-year minimum starting in 1790," Dr Jasinski said.

"The longer-term trends are a lot less predictable and are something we don't completely understand yet."