Sun starting its next solar cycle, despite being halfway through current cycle

New Delhi: Even though the Sun is just halfway through its current cycle, the first rumblings of its next 11-year solar cycle have been detected in sound waves within it, according to a team of researchers.

This current cycle is presently reaching its apex, or solar maximum that occurs when the Sun's magnetic field flips and its poles swap places, until mid-2025.

It impacts the Sun's surface activity, with sunspots, flares, and coronal mass ejections all increasing during solar maximum.

This causes an increase in electromagnetic energy heading towards Earth, making auroras more visible and at lower altitudes.

The current solar cycle, known as Cycle 25, began in 2019.