A. New rings
B. A permanent eclipse
C. Kelvin-Helmholtz instability
D. Frozen plasma
In August 2026, scientists released the sharpest image yet captured of the Sun’s surface using the National Science Foundation’s Inouye Solar Telescope. The observations provided direct visual evidence of Kelvin-Helmholtz instability in the solar photosphere.
Kelvin-Helmholtz instability occurs when there is a difference in velocity between adjacent layers of fluid or plasma. Studying this process on the Sun can help scientists better understand the behavior of solar plasma and stellar atmospheres.