Mystery #2Tier 2-3space / solar flares
What is a solar flare, and why is it such a huge deal?
Every so often the Sun throws a tantrum. In just a few minutes a small patch of it suddenly blazes far brighter, unleashing more energy than millions of volcanoes, in a flash that races across 150 million kilometres of space and jangles radios here on Earth. It is one of the most powerful events in the whole solar system. So what exactly is a solar flare, and why is it such a big deal?
Your guess
What's your hunch about what a solar flare really is?
There's no single magic word to type, have a go in your own words, then reveal the answer to see how close you got.
Make a guess to unlock the hints and the answer.