Agencies

Clearest-ever images of sun’s corona captured with new optical technique

Published: 28 May 2025
Categories: National Science Foundation

RSS feed source: National Science Foundation

Using a new optical system, scientists at the U.S. National Science Foundation National Solar Observatory and the New Jersey Institute of Technology have captured the most detailed images of the complex movements in the sun’s atmosphere, the corona. The technology will allow scientists to better understand the extreme nature of the corona and produce computer models that more accurately predict space weather and potential Earth-impacting solar flares.

The researchers developed the new coronal adaptive optics system at the NSF-funded Goode Solar Telescope in California. Similar to a camera’s “autofocus” feature, the adaptive optics system continuously adjusts to counteract the blurring effect of the Earth’s atmosphere while isolating and zooming in on dynamic coronal features. The results of the study were published in Nature Astronomy.

Plasma movement in the sun’s corona

Credit: Schmidt et al./ NJIT/ NSO/ AURA/ U.S. National Science Foundation

This time-lapse video of a solar prominence shows how plasma “dances” and twists with the sun’s magnetic field. This video was taken by the Goode Solar Telescope at Big Bear Solar Observatory using the new coronal adaptive optics system Cona.

“Observing the sun’s corona requires specialized optical capabilities because details are easily overpowered by the brightness of the sun and blurred from view by Earth’s atmosphere,” says Carrie Black, program director for

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Level 2 – Global Polio

Published: 21 April 2025
Categories: DoT, Public Health

RSS feed source: National Science Foundation

Some international destinations have circulating poliovirus. Before any international travel, make sure you are up to date on your polio vaccines. Country List : Afghanistan, Algeria, Benin, Cameroon, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia, Yemen, Indonesia, Sudan, Mali, Kenya, Guinea, Egypt, Zimbabwe, Angola, Liberia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Ethiopia, The Gambia, Republic of South Sudan, Uganda, French Guiana (France), Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Ghana, Spain, Israel, including the West Bank and Gaza, Finland, Germany, Poland, United Kingdom, including England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland

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