Hidden solar waves reshape understanding of Sun

Findings from a team of researchers based in the UAE have revealed a previously undetected class of solar waves deep within the Sun, offering fresh insight into the behaviour of magnetic fields that drive solar activity and influence space weather.

The study, led by scientists affiliated with New York University Abu Dhabi, identifies wave patterns occurring far below the Sun’s visible surface, in regions long considered beyond the reach of direct observation. These waves, detected through advanced modelling and helioseismic analysis, appear to interact with magnetic fields in ways that challenge established assumptions about solar dynamics.

Scientists have for decades relied on indirect techniques to probe the Sun’s interior, particularly helioseismology, which interprets oscillations on the solar surface to infer processes occurring within. The new research extends this approach by isolating subtle wave signatures linked to magnetic activity in deeper layers, where temperatures and pressures make direct measurement impossible.

The Sun’s interior is broadly divided into three main zones: the core, where nuclear fusion occurs; the radiative zone, where energy is transported outward by radiation; and the convective zone, where hot plasma rises and falls in turbulent motion. The boundary between the radiative and convective zones, known as the tachocline, is widely believed to play a critical role in generating the Sun’s magnetic field through a process called the solar dynamo.

The newly identified waves appear to originate near this boundary region, offering a potential window into how magnetic fields are formed, stored and amplified before emerging as sunspots and solar flares. Researchers say these waves could help explain long-standing questions about the solar cycle, including why magnetic activity rises and falls over roughly 11-year periods.

According to the research team, the waves behave differently from previously known solar oscillations. While traditional acoustic waves are driven by pressure and propagate through the Sun’s outer layers, the newly detected signals appear to be influenced by magnetic forces, indicating a more complex interaction between plasma motion and magnetic fields deep within the star.

“This opens a new observational channel into the Sun’s interior,” one of the lead researchers noted, emphasising that the findings could refine models used to predict solar behaviour. Improved understanding of internal magnetic dynamics is expected to enhance forecasting of solar storms, which can disrupt satellite communications, navigation systems and power grids on Earth.

Space weather forecasting has become a growing priority for governments and industry as reliance on satellite infrastructure expands. Large solar eruptions, such as coronal mass ejections, can send charged particles towards Earth, triggering geomagnetic storms with potentially wide-ranging economic and technological impacts.

The ability to detect early signals of magnetic build-up inside the Sun could provide longer lead times for such events. Current forecasting methods are largely based on surface observations, which often capture activity only after it has already developed.

The research also has implications for broader astrophysics, as the Sun serves as a reference point for understanding other stars. Stellar magnetic fields are known to influence phenomena ranging from stellar winds to habitability conditions on surrounding planets. Insights into the Sun’s internal processes could therefore inform models of stellar evolution across the galaxy.

The UAE has been steadily expanding its role in space science, with initiatives such as the Emirates Mars Mission and investments in solar physics research. Institutions like UAE Space Agency have supported collaborations aimed at advancing scientific understanding while building local expertise in astrophysics and space technology.

Researchers involved in the study highlighted the importance of international cooperation, noting that the work draws on data and theoretical frameworks developed by scientists across multiple countries. High-performance computing and advanced simulation techniques were also critical in identifying the subtle wave patterns within vast datasets.