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The Sun’s corona, its outermost atmospheric layer, holds the key to understanding solar activity, including phenomena like solar flares and space weather events. For decades, scientists have grappled with the challenge of measuring the Sun’s coronal magnetic field, as this field drives much of the energy that leads to solar eruptions.

Now, in a groundbreaking achievement, Professor Tian Hui's research team from Peking University, in collaboration with international experts, has made the first conventional measurements of the global coronal magnetic field. Their findings, published in the journal Science (Volume 386, No 6717), offer new insights into the Sun’s magnetic activity over a period of eight months.

The Sun’s magnetic field is responsible for storing and releasing energy, which heats the plasma in the corona and triggers solar eruptions. These eruptions, in turn, can have significant impacts on space weather, potentially affecting satellite operations, GPS systems, and even human spaceflight. However, due to the relatively weak nature of the coronal magnetic field compared to the magnetic field on the Sun’s surface (the photosphere), measuring this field has proven to be a significant challenge.

The importance of coronal magnetic field measurements

As the Sun rotates, there are variations in the magnetic fields and the ability to regularly monitor the Sun’s coronal magnetic field will improve our understanding of solar eruptions and help protect high-tech systems on Earth and in space.

Over the years, there have been routine measurements of the photospheric magnetic field, but the coronal field has remained elusive. This limitation has impeded scientists' ability to fully understand the three-dimensional magnetic field structure and the dynamic processes that occur in the Sun’s atmosphere.

In 2020, Tian Hui's team developed a method called “two-dimensional coronal shocks,” which enabled the first measurements of the global distribution of the coronal magnetic field. This was a major milestone, marking a crucial step towards the goal of routine coronal magnetic field measurements.

More recently, Tian's team refined this method further, allowing them to track magnetohydrodynamic shear waves in the corona with greater precision. This made it possible to diagnose the distribution of coronal density and, as a result, determine both the strength and direction of the magnetic field.

Using the Upgraded Coronal Multi-Channel Polarimeter (UCoMP), the research team conducted detailed observations of the Sun’s corona from February to October 2022. Over this eight-month period, they collected 114 magnetograms, or magnetic field images, which allowed them to observe the evolution of the coronal magnetic field at different altitudes and latitudes across multiple solar rotations. The magnetic field strength measured between 1.05 and 1.60 solar radii and varied from less than 1 gauss to around 20 gauss.

With these measurements, they were able to create a global map of the magnetic field intensity in the Sun’s corona. This map revealed how the magnetic field evolves over time and across different regions of the Sun.

When compared to the predictions of the most advanced global coronal models—such as the one developed by Predictive Science, a U.S.-based company—the team found that their observational data closely matched the model’s predictions in mid- and low-latitude regions. However, they noted larger discrepancies in high-latitude regions and active areas of the Sun.

These findings are critical for improving current models of the Sun’s magnetic activity and understanding the dynamics of solar eruptions. As lead author Yang Zihao explains, the team's observations provide a key foundation for refining and optimizing coronal models, which could eventually lead to more accurate predictions of solar eruptions and their potential impact on Earth’s space environment.

This study marks a shift in solar physics, as the field enters a new era of routine coronal magnetic field measurements.

According to Tian Hui, this achievement is just the beginning. While their current methods allow for the measurement of the magnetic field at the edge of the solar disk, the next goal is to develop techniques that will enable a complete measurement of the entire coronal magnetic field, including the solar disk itself. This will require the integration of other measurement methods and tools, but it represents a critical objective for the solar physics community in the coming decades.

Via Science

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Rivian is getting into the Halloween spirit with a software update that will allow owners to transform their R1 electric SUVs into KITT from Knight Rider, a Time Machine from Back to the Future or a haunted scarecrow that teases pedestrians with creepy owl chirps.

No, this isn’t an awkwardly-mistimed April Fool’s Day prank, but a limited time software update from Rivian that it hopes will inject a little fun into the rather dull subject of software-defined vehicles.

Once users have updated to the latest software on both the smartphone app and the vehicle (over-the-air, of course), Rivian R1 owners can then select from a number of ‘Car Costumes’ that take over the infotainment system, the exterior lighting and even exterior sound effects in some cases.

While in park (for legal reasons), owners will first have to locate the ‘Get Spooky’ card on the main page of the Rivian mobile app and can then select the Gear Guard dressed as Michael Knight to activate a Knight Rider-themed package of software shenanigans.

The main infotainment display will feature KITT’s diagnostics on screen and play the original show intro music, so owners can channel their inner Hasselhoff on the way to work.

Rivian says that second-generation R1 owners will also enjoy an exterior light bar that cascades a red beam and exude its iconic scanner sound effect, “creating the ultimate Knight Rider experience,” according to the brand.

If Back to the Future is more your thing, Rivian has just the solution, as its bespoke ‘Car Costume’ apparently turned the R1 into Time Machine. Not literally, obviously, but it will transform the infotainment screen into the famous DeLorean interface, as well as play music and sound effects from the film.

Again, second-generation R1 owners get to have all the fun, because an 88mph button which will engage Back to the Future themed lighting and sound effects in the front and rear of the vehicle, too.

Rivian gets creepy

Knight Rider and Back to the Future might not be the first things that spring to mind when you think Halloween, which is why Rivian has also catered for the traditionalists with a Haunted 'Car Costume' that sees video static (a la The Ring) and ghosts flying around the in-car displays.

There are also eight different sound effects and three different color themes to choose from, including Halloween classics purple, yellow, red, and green, while Gen 2 owners will be able to select a creepy hue for the exterior light bar. When parked, otherwise this bit of seasonal fun might fall foul of the law.

In addition to this, owners are treated to a bunch of other Easter eggs (or should that be candy corn?) for fans of the creepy season, such as the driver assistance display, which takes a live feed from external cameras and sensors, transforming pedestrians into zombies and cyclists into headless horsemen.

According to Rivian, the Halloween fun will only last until November 4 before it gets tired and boring and gets probably replaced by Christmas tat instead.

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When everything new on Hulu in November gets released, it always seems to be a case that the best Hulu movies bear the brunt of the chop, while all the best Hulu shows seem to remain untouched. For November 2024, I'm excited to announce that... history is repeating itself.

Hulu's November 2024 list shows that even the best streaming services have their flaws, and although it's not ideal that Hulu is stripping us of more movies, there are no more than 30 titles leaving the service, which I guess is a silver lining. Unfortunately, that means I have to bid farewell to Hustlers (2019), a fun and entertaining watch and one of my ultimate comfort movies.

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Everything leaving Hulu in November 2024

Leaving on November 4

American Murderer (movie)

Leaving on November 7

Moonbound (movie)

Leaving on November 12

Catch the Fair One (movie)
The Locksmith (movie)

Leaving on November 14

The Dinner (movie)
Ghost Team (movie)

Leaving on November 16

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Beneath the Darkness (movie)
Bone Tomahawk (movie)
Brawl in Cell Block 99 (movie)
The Cobbler (movie)
Devil's Knot (movie)
I Kill Giants (movie)
Mandy (movie)
Mary (movie)
Once Upon a Time in Venice (movie)
Pay the Ghost (movie)
Plus One (movie)
The Man Who Killed Hitler and then the Bigfoot (movie)
The Rewrite (movie)
Terminal (movie)

Leaving on November 19

Dual (movie)

Leaving on November 25

A Banquet (movie)
Mummies (movie)

Leaving on November 30

A Christmas Winter Song (movie)
Hustlers (movie)
Three Identical Strangers (movie)

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