A new study in The Astrophysical Journal Letters reports that solar activity has been rising since about 2008, surprising researchers who expected a prolonged quiet period. Scientists observed increases in the Sun's magnetic field strength and solar wind intensity through 2025, though future trends remain uncertain. Elevated activity raises the odds of flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs) that can disrupt satellites, GPS, radio networks, and, in extreme cases, power grids. Researchers are intensifying monitoring and planning to reduce risks to space missions and infrastructure.
Study: The Sun Has Been ‘Waking Up’ Since 2008 — What That Means for Satellites, Power Grids and Space Missions
A depiction of the sun surrounded by stars - muratart/Shutterstock
We depend on the Sun for light and warmth, yet many aspects of its long-term behavior remain uncertain. A new paper published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters has surprised NASA researchers by reporting a rise in solar activity since about 2008 — a trend that contrasts with earlier expectations of a prolonged quiet period.
What the Study Found
The authors document gradual increases in several key measures of solar activity from roughly 2008 through 2025, including the Sun's magnetic field strength and the intensity of the solar wind. These observations come after a decline in multiple solar metrics from about 1990 to 2008, which had led some scientists to suggest the Sun might be entering a multi-decade quiet phase similar to historical minima.
Cycles and Historical Context
The Sun operates on multiple timescales: a familiar ~11-year sunspot cycle and longer multi-decade stretches of higher or lower activity. Extended quiet intervals — such as the Maunder Minimum in the 17th century and the Dalton Minimum in the early 19th century — have occurred before and can last decades. Researchers do not yet fully understand the mechanisms that drive these longer swings.
Rendering of the sun emitting a solar flare - Mr.alien001/Shutterstock
Why Rising Activity Matters
Higher solar activity increases the probability of solar flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs). CMEs are large expulsions of plasma and magnetic field from the Sun and can, if directed at Earth, trigger geomagnetic storms. While Earth's magnetic field and atmosphere protect us from most smaller events, a sufficiently large CME could disrupt electrical grids and other infrastructure. Although an Earth-ending scenario is extraordinarily unlikely, the practical risks are real:
- Satellite electronics can be damaged by charged particles.
- GPS accuracy and reliability can degrade when the ionosphere is disturbed.
- High-frequency radio communications can be interrupted.
- Astronauts outside Earth's protective magnetic field face increased radiation exposure during strong solar particle events.
What Comes Next
Scientists emphasize that while the upward trend is clear through 2025, it is not yet known whether solar activity will continue to rise, level off, or decline again. The new findings are prompting renewed attention to solar monitoring, improved space weather forecasting, and revised planning for missions and critical infrastructure resilience.
Bottom line: The Sun appears to have brightened its activity since 2008. The trend has implications for satellites, communications, astronaut safety, and power systems, so researchers and mission planners are tracking the Sun closely.
