Solar flares are enormous plumes of superheated plasma ejected by the sun. These massive plumes are so large, they could engulf our planet several times over. But for the first time, researchers have created mini solar flares in a laboratory that are small enough to fit inside your lunchbox.
Solar flares are birthed from large loops of plasma, or ionized gas, on the sun’s surface. These loops, known as corona loops, form along invisible magnetic field lines that get twisted by the sun's intense gravity. Sometimes, however, these lines snap back into their original shape like a rubber band, which flings plasma away from the sun.
