The smiling Sun will hurl solar flares at nearly 2 million miles an hour

Plus: Massive meteoroid strike on Mars creates 500-feet wide crater, unearths boulder-sized blocks of water ice. Oct 29, 2022 [Blueprint]( Is that a smile or an ominous, sinister grin? NASA released [images of the Sun]( that makes it appear as if it’s smiling. However, upon further examination, the dark spots that look like a smile are actually called coronal holes. These are regions on the Sun where solar wind flows out into space. The spots on the Sun are darker because the temperature is drastically reduced in those areas. The smile shows three spots where the coronal holes are located, forming what looks like two eyes and a smile, appearing darker than the rest of the Sun. Some people might mistaken these shadowy spots as sunspots, but the coronal holes are open magnetic field structures where the solar winds can escape, different from sunspots that keep the magnetic field in a reoccurring circle, but both are due to lower surface temperatures. As NASA describes, the coronal holes are fast gusts of solar winds, and sadly, not an actual smile. But it sure did make alot of people happy when they looked at the image. But before you start smiling from this picture of a very jovial-looking Sun, here is something else that might make you smile. Here is a [video]( of a pirate driving a jet-powered vehicle. The speed, and the passion he put into making the vehicle and decorations are sure to make you smile. Good morning. I’m Brittney, an Editor at IE. Welcome to today’s issue of The Blueprint. Let’s get started. Last Saturday, in The Blueprint, premium subscribers learned about space rocks and why they are important, according to an astrogeologist. This weekend, premium subscribers hear from a rocket startup CEO who is on a mission to make [satellite launches sustainable]( wants to reduce carbon emissions by 90%. Don't miss out — [subscribe to IE+]( today to receive exclusive interviews, features, and much more. [premium] [Play]VIDEO OF THE DAY [This jet powered vehicle driven by a pirate is just in time for Halloween.]( [But is it really powered by a jet? You decide.]( But is it really powered by a jet? You decide. [Must Read]MUST READ [The smiling Sun will hurl solar flares at nearly 2 million miles an hour.]( [The Earth is in the firing line for some intense solar winds.]( [The Earth is in the firing line for some intense solar winds.]( NASASun/Twitter NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) caught the[Sun "smiling"]( and warned us about some harsh weather ahead in space. The agency caught the image using ultraviolet light. The dark patches on the sun are not sunspots, but a phenomenon known as coronal holes. The smile seen on the solar surface is also the result of three darker areas. Unlike sunspots whose magnetic fields loop back onto themselves, coronal holes are open magnetic field line structures that allow solar winds to readily escape. These outbursts can have speeds of nearly two million miles (3 million km) an hour. As the Sun slowly approaches its solar maximum, activity on the solar surface has begun to rise. Astronomers have been closely analyzing the events occurring on the solar surface as the Sun's flips its poles as part of its 11-year-cycle. →With the Earth in the firing line of these coronal holes, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in the U.S. has warned of a low-intensity, G1-class geomagnetic storm. [READ MORE [Arrow]]( [SCIENCE]SCIENCE [Massive meteoroid strike on Mars creates 500-feet wide crater, unearths boulder-sized blocks of water ice.]( Since landing in November 2018, [NASA's InSight Mars lander]( has studied the Red Planet's crust, mantle, and core, and even detected 1,1318 marsquakes. Due to dust settling on its solar panels, unfortunately, InSight's power has largely declined in recent months, and the spacecraft is expected to shut down, in the next six weeks. But, before a graceful exit, InSight detected a magnitude 4 marsquake on December 24, caused by a meteoroid strike estimated to be one of the biggest seen on Mars. [READ MORE [Arrow]]( And Other Stories in Science - ‘Accidental power trip’ leads scientists to discover [new way of generating hydrogen](. - Peto’s paradox: Why do whales and elephants very [rarely develop cancer]( - A study on [10,000 kinds of Earth's minerals]( could help us discover extraterrestrial life. [premium] [INNOVATION]INNOVATION [Amazon may have to turn to SpaceX for help launching its Starlink rival service.]( Amazon is working towards the launch of two prototype satellites for its SpaceX Starlink-rivaling internet service, Project Kuiper. The delivery giant plans to [launch these first two satellites]( at some point next year, and earlier this year, it penned what it calls "the largest commercial procurement of launch vehicles in history." [READ MORE [Arrow]]( And Other Stories in Innovation - A CT scan reveals the inner, [complex world of bee swarms](. - A new book explores how [Musk, Bezos, and China]( are rewriting the rules on space exploration. [premium] - Meet [RobotFalcon]( Built for chasing off flocks of birds around airports. [MAIL & MUSINGS]MAIL & MUSINGS The coronal holes on the Sun and the extreme solar winds. How will the coronal holes affect Earth? [The coronal holes will affect Earth's magnetic field]( [The coronal holes will not affect our planet at all]( [We will see auroras in the sky in certain parts of the world]( [It will affect infrastructure, satellites and radios]( YESTERDAY'S RESULTS Yesterday we asked why you think NASA calls on the global public to help it document weird phenomena in the sky. An overwhelming 79 percent of you said it is because it wants to know more about them. 79% It wants to know more about them 11% They might be useful 6% Another reason entirely 3% It's concerned about them [QUOTE OF THE DAY]QUOTE OF THE DAY "Past time is finite, future time is infinite." – Edwin Hubble [THINGS WE LOVE]THINGS WE LOVE [image](https:/interestingengineering.com/deals/9-irresistible-headsets-to-enhance-your-gaming-euphoria?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=click&utm_campaign=affiliate_section) [Logitech G Pro Gaming Headset](https:/interestingengineering.com/deals/9-irresistible-headsets-to-enhance-your-gaming-euphoria?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=click&utm_campaign=affiliate_section) [image](https:/interestingengineering.com/deals/9-virtual-reality-headsets-to-enjoy-the-exciting-world-of-metaverse?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=click&utm_campaign=affiliate_section) [Oculus VR Headset](https:/interestingengineering.com/deals/9-virtual-reality-headsets-to-enjoy-the-exciting-world-of-metaverse?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=click&utm_campaign=affiliate_section) [image](https:/interestingengineering.com/deals/9-best-portable-tvs-to-enjoy-screen-time-on-the-go?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=click&utm_campaign=affiliate_section) [Supersonic LED Portable TV](https:/interestingengineering.com/deals/9-best-portable-tvs-to-enjoy-screen-time-on-the-go?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=click&utm_campaign=affiliate_section) [image](https:/interestingengineering.com/deals/9-av-receivers-to-enjoy-an-immersive-audio-and-visual-experience?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=click&utm_campaign=affiliate_section) [Yamaha RX V385 AV Receiver](https:/interestingengineering.com/deals/9-av-receivers-to-enjoy-an-immersive-audio-and-visual-experience?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=click&utm_campaign=affiliate_section) [AND ANOTHER THING]AND ANOTHER THING - Elon [Musk completes Twitter takeover]( fires CEO Parag Aggarwal. - A [floating wind platform]( has been installed in Spain 50 meters into the water. - 'Wind Challenger': World's first partially [wind-powered cargo ship]( successfully sailed. - Breakthrough in [CRISPR]( research may lead to more effective and safer gene editing. (Phys.org) - Revolutionizing[treatment of neurodegenerative diseases]( - One patient at a time. [premium] - First 3D quantum accelerometer could let [ships navigate without GPS](. (New Scientist) - This wireless, [battery-free pacemaker]( is a real game changer for heart disease patients. Prepared by Brittney Grimes Enjoy Reading? Forward this email to a friend. Was this email forwarded to you? [Join Free!]( [About Us]( [Advertise]( [Contact Us]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Youtube]( [Linkedin]( [Instagram]( You are receiving this email because you have subscribed to our newsletter. Manage you e-mail preferences or unsubscribe [here](. © Copyright 2022 | The Blueprint is by Interesting Engineering, Inc. 205 Hudson St New York, NY, 10013, USA [Interesting Engineering]