Have you heard? We are now officially in the solar maximum phase! That means we’re in the part of the 11-year solar cycle where solar eruptions, geomagnetic storms, and auroras are most likely to occur. But how do scientists tell where we are in the solar cycle? They count sunspots! Those dark solar splotches tell a story: As solar activity waxes and wanes, so does the sunspot count. But don’t just take our word for it – try it yourself! Track the current and past solar cycles with these fun sun

Earth’s currents are mesmerizing! 🌀😵‍💫 NASA has released a breathtaking visualization of our planet’s most powerful ocean currents – from the mighty Gulf Stream to the swirling Kuroshio and Agulhas. Built from decades of satellite data and advanced modeling, this simulation captures the ocean’s intricate, never-ending flow – including currents up to 1,970 feet (600 meters) below the surface. To create it, scientists released virtual particles into a 3D velocity field. Shallow ones leave trail