A hidden “switch-off” signal could predict solar storms seven years early

The solar cycle can be irregular, but some patterns might be trackable—enough to provide a heads-up before extreme weather events.

A newly discovered turning point in the Sun’s 11-year cycle could allow scientists to predict future solar activity years earlier than before. At this “switch-off” point, the most violent space weather abruptly ends, and the remaining number of sunspots offers clues about the…