Massive 'hole' in sun threatens earth with unprecedented blast

A massive dark hole, known as a coronal hole, has formed on the sun's surface, emitting fast radiation towards Earth. This temporary gap is larger than 60 Earths and has puzzled scientists due to its occurrence during the solar cycle. Coronal holes are cooler and less dense than the surrounding plasma, appearing as dark patches. They typically occur during solar minimum and are usually found near the sun's poles, making this equatorial coronal hole unusual.