The solar activity index has reached zero — for the first time since April 2024. This was reported by the Solar Astronomy Laboratory of the Space Research Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences.
The contrast with the beginning of the year is striking: in January and February, the Sun broke two records of the current century at once — in terms of the power of the radiation storm and the number of strong flares in one active region.
The star, which burned so much energy in a matter of weeks, seems completely "exhausted." The Space Research Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences admits that it does not yet see the resources that could reverse the downward trend. Scientists describe what is happening as the beginning of a very long depression in activity.
Nevertheless, a complete cessation of activity at the current stage of the solar cycle is considered unlikely. The failure may be delayed, but it will remain temporary: the cycle continues, and sooner or later the Sun will regain strength.