Solar activity in 2013 may register lowest peak since 1920s

August 7th, 2009 WASHINGTON - In a new research, scientists have concluded that slight shifts in solar radiation caused by predictable changes in Earth's rotation and axis made the periodic ice ages to finally come to an end about 19,000 years ago. The research, by scientists from Oregon State University and other institutions conclude that the known wobbles in Earth's rotation caused global ice levels to reach their peak about 26,000 years ago, stabilize for 7,000 years and then begin melting 19,000 years ago, eventually bringing to an end the last ice age.

July 22nd, 2009 BHUBANESWAR - Those who had hoped to witness the century's longest solar eclipse in Orissa were disappointed Wednesday as the sky remained overcast in most parts of the state. Thousands of people woke up early in the morning and were armed with special glasses to see the phenomenon.

July 22nd, 2009 NEW DELHI - The excitement of the century's longest total solar eclipse was quite evident from the sales of Gnomon Astrotech, a Delhi based firm that sold a record 50,000 solar goggles across India in just two days. The company imported a large number of solar goggles, solar filter films and telescopes from a US-based firm to meet the huge demand during the celestial spectacle.

July 22nd, 2009 NEW DELHI - The excitement over the century's longest solar eclipse was not confined to science centres and planetariums. Schools that had organised sun gazing exercises in their premises Wednesday said that it was a big hit with students who made a beeline to watch the phenomenon.

July 22nd, 2009 NEW DELHI - Unable to buy a solar goggle but keen on watching the century's longest solar eclipse, 25-year-old Anurag Gupta caught hold of an old x-ray scan of his chest and went to the Nehru Planetarium to have a glimpse of the celestial spectacle. Gupta was not the only one armed with an x-ray.

July 21st, 2009 MUMBAI - Did you know animals and birds often prepare for sleep or behave confusedly during total solar eclipse? Well, here are some other little known facts about solar eclipse. - The longest recorded duration for a total solar eclipse is 7.5 minutes.

July 20th, 2009 SURAT - The Gujarat government Monday launched a website dedicated to the total solar eclipse of July 22, an official here said. The state government launched the website solareclipsesurat.in jointly with the Surat Municipal Corporation and the Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

July 18th, 2009 NEW DELHI/AHMEDABAD - Hoping to attract around 5,000 tourists to watch the solar eclipse on July 22 in Surat district, one of the places in India where the total eclipse will be visible, the Gujarat government Saturday announced it would offer free boarding to the first 200 people registering with them. The tourists will be accommodated in the homes of local people in Surat free of charge under a scheme called 'Atithi devo bhava' (the guest is almost akin to god).

July 18th, 2009 WASHINGTON - A high in solar activity impacts the earth in a way that resembles the devastating El Nio, releasing more energy than a million Hiroshima bombs, according to a new study. The study shows that as the sun reaches maximum activity, it heats cloud-free parts of the Pacific Ocean enough to increase evaporation, intensify tropical rainfall and the trade winds, and cool the eastern tropical Pacific.

July 4th, 2009 WASHINGTON - A team of scientists has for the first time observed energetic neutral atoms scattered off the Moon from the incoming solar wind ion beam. When the solar wind, made up mostly of ionized hydrogen, hits the Moon, most of it is absorbed, but some is reemitted as energetic neutral atoms.

July 4th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Scientists have analyzed Beryllium-10, a radioactive isotope, found from the NGRIP ice core, Greenland, which reflects solar activity over the past 600 years. Beryllium-10, a radioactive isotope, is produced in cosmic ray showers.

June 20th, 2009 WASHINGTON - A team of astronomers has suggested that a sluggish, jet stream-like flow deep inside the sun could be to blame for the delay in increased solar activity. The team was team led by Frank Hill of the National Solar Observatory in Tucson, Arizona, US.

May 9th, 2009 Warning: Sunspot cycle beginning to riseWASHINGTON — When the sun sneezes it's Earth that gets sick. It's time for the sun to move into a busier period for sunspots, and while forecasters expect a relatively mild outbreak by historical standards, one major solar storm can cause havoc with satellites and electrical systems here.

March 12th, 2009 WASHINGTON - A new study has suggested that the concept of delaying global warming by adding particles into the upper atmosphere to cool the climate could unintentionally reduce peak electricity generated by large solar power plants by as much as one-fifth. The study was conducted by researchers at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

January 12th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Extreme solar eruptions could disrupt communications, power grids and other technology on earth by 2012. These eruptions are expected to increase in frequency and intensity towards the next solar maximum cycle which peaks in 2012, up from the current minimum of its 11-year activity cycle.