It’s no secret that the sun is one of the hottest places known to humanity. Yet, surprisingly, it experiences rain as well. But its similarity to precipitation on Earth is limited. A study sheds a whole new light on how it can form.
Sun: Even Here It Rains
The mystery of rain on the sun lies in the fact that science has yet to fully explain it. For some time, it has been known that highly condensed plasma droplets form near the surface and fall back onto the star. But how is that even possible? A scientist from the University of Hawaii and a first-year student from the same university were able to solve this problem.
The duo’s study revealed that the confusion stemmed largely from the use of flawed models. This misunderstanding arose primarily because researchers had attempted to associate the rain on the fiery giant with plasma heating events lasting hours or even days. However, this cause is actually impossible, as the raindrops sometimes formed within minutes.
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How the Precipitation Occurs
Instead, the scientists explain that one cannot assume time-intensive heating. It is rather due to the change in the chemical composition of the plasma that is ejected during a solar flare. This changes the thermal properties of the plasma, which significantly accelerates the heating and generation of drops.
For the team, the discovery represents a significant step forward in the study of the sun. Astronomer Jeffrey Reep, who was involved in the project as a professional, explained that it is “new and exciting” to be able to approach the celestial body from this new perspective, as the University of Hawaii at Manoa reports (via EurekAlert). For now, however, the study is only a theoretical model for explanation. Further practical observations are necessary to verify or falsify the theory.
Sources: EurekAlert, “Spatiotemporal Low First Ionization Potential Abundance: A Catalyst for Coronal Condensation” (The Astrophysical Journal, 2025)
This article was translated with the help of AI and carefully reviewed by our editorial team.