UFO-hunters might be disappointed by the nature of the discovery but NASA believes the plasma bursts shed new light on how the Sun works.
According to NASA, an estimated 99 percent of the observable universe is accounted for by plasma – an electrically conductive material built from charged particles.
NASA said in a statement: “For 150 years scientists have been trying to figure out why the wispy upper atmosphere of the Sun – the corona – is over 200 times hotter than the solar surface.
“This region, which extends millions of miles, somehow becomes superheated and continually releases highly charged particles, which race across the solar system at supersonic speeds.
“When those particles encounter Earth, they have the potential to harm satellites and astronauts, disrupt telecommunications, and even interfere with power grids during particularly strong events.
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