The Sun in 3-D
On Monday, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory released the first 3-D images of the sun from a pair of spacecraft called Stereo. The spacecraft, which were launched last October, are helping astronomers study and predict gigantic eruptions from the sun. (See “Better Predictions of Space Weather.”) Currently, the nature and causes of these explosions of high-energy particles and magnetic storms are poorly understood. And being able to predict them farther in advance will help prevent damage to satellites orbiting the earth.

In the past, astronomers have been able to look at these solar storms, called coronal mass ejections, only from the earth. This made it impossible to predict the storms in advance. But by sending up the pair of spacecraft, one orbiting the sun in front of the earth and the other behind, researchers have gained a far better view of the solar storms and will be able to predict them sooner.
Multimedia
View a slideshow of Stereo images.
View a video of the sun at different wavelengths.
View a 3-D clip of active sights on the sun.
The spacecraft, which carry multiple instruments, including 3-D imagers and particle and magnetic-field detectors, have not yet helped predict any storms because the sun has been relatively calm. But that could soon change: the number of coronal mass ejections is expected to peak within the next few years.
Keep Reading
Most Popular
DeepMind’s cofounder: Generative AI is just a phase. What’s next is interactive AI.
“This is a profound moment in the history of technology,” says Mustafa Suleyman.
What to know about this autumn’s covid vaccines
New variants will pose a challenge, but early signs suggest the shots will still boost antibody responses.
Human-plus-AI solutions mitigate security threats
With the right human oversight, emerging technologies like artificial intelligence can help keep business and customer data secure
Next slide, please: A brief history of the corporate presentation
From million-dollar slide shows to Steve Jobs’s introduction of the iPhone, a bit of show business never hurt plain old business.
Stay connected
Get the latest updates from
MIT Technology Review
Discover special offers, top stories, upcoming events, and more.