JERUSALEM, June 22 (Xinhua) -- Solar flares, those intense bursts of radiation from stars, can cause rapid weather changes on planets, even here on Earth, according to scientists at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
Their new findings, published in The Astronomical Journal, offer strong proof that flares from a star can lead to noticeable climate shifts within just a few days.
This research could help us pinpoint which planets outside our solar system, known as exoplanets, might be able to support life. It also sheds new light on the short-term weather patterns we experience on Earth.
While the study largely focused on these distant worlds, the researchers pointed out that solar activity might also contribute to brief weather changes on Earth. These are different from the long-term climate shifts caused by human actions, but they could still have significant impacts in areas prone to unpredictable weather.
"Stars don't just warm their planets-they can also actively shape their weather systems," the study concluded.
The research underscores that stars do more than merely warm their planets; they can also actively influence their weather systems. ■
