A new study suggests that the planets in our solar system may be helping to keep the sun calmer than other sun-like stars, potentially lowering the risk of powerful solar storms that could disrupt modern technology on Earth.
The research, led by scientists at the German research laboratory Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), proposes that the sun's flares, magnetic storms and bursts of radiation are shaped not only by internal processes but also by the gravitational pull of Venus, Earth and Jupiter. These subtle tidal forces appear to act like a "pacemaker" for the sun, rhythmically influencing its inner magnetic systems in a regular cycle, according to a statement.
