Iron inside the Sun

Context

Scientists have discovered that iron inside the Sun is far more opaque (blocks more light) than previous models predicted. This was found through new experiments using advanced technolog

Key Findings

Iron in the Sun absorbs more energy (is more opaque) — up to 30% to 400% more than expected, depending on the type of radiation hitting it.
The new measurements were done by recreating Sun-like conditions in a lab using X-rays, iron samples, and ultrafast detectors.
These findings show that our theoretical models are underestimating iron's opacity, which means they may be miscalculating how energy moves through the Sun.
This solves an old puzzle: earlier, scientists noticed a mismatch between models and actual solar data (like sound waves inside the Sun), but couldn’t explain it. This new research explains the mismatch.

Fact Box:

About Sun

The Sun is a giant ball of gas (mostly hydrogen and helium) with layers where energy is produced and transported.
It contains more than 99.8% of the total mass of the Solar System with only Jupiter having the remaining 1.2%.
Iron, though present in small amounts, plays a major role in controlling how energy moves from the Sun’s core to its surface.
Accurate knowledge of opacity (how much elements absorb energy) is crucial to modeling the Sun’s structure, temperature, and behavior.