Chinese scientists discover new pattern of solar rotation

Chinese scientists have made a significant breakthrough in solar research through the use of their solar exploration satellite, the Chinese H-alpha Solar Explorer (CHASE), which has led to the discovery of a new pattern of solar atmospheric rotation.

The team successfully generated a precise three-dimensional representation of solar atmospheric rotation for the first time ever, the findings of which have been published in the renowned international journal "Nature Astronomy" on Thursday. The data was obtained by the CHASE satellite, China's first solar scientific and technological experimental satellite which was launched back in 2021.

Following an extensive study, researchers said they have obtained the world's first three-dimensional image of solar atmospheric rotation, unlocking more secrets about our Sun.

Traditionally, as a sphere rotates, the higher the atmospheric altitude, the slower it moves. However, the research team discovered that as the solar atmospheric altitude increases, the Sun's rotational speed also increases.

"Since the rotational changes caused by viscous effects should gradually decrease from the bottom to the top, there must be a force driving the rotation of the upper atmospheric layers. Therefore, this finding will have significant scientific implications for solar activity and the evolution of the Sun," said Ding Mingde, principle investigator of the project and a professor at the Nanjing University.

The journal said results have important implications for understanding more about the subsurface processes of the Sun and its atmospheric dynamics.

The CHASE satellite was launched in October 2021 and has a design life of three years. It is in placed in a locked orbit around the Earth keeping it in the same fixed position relative to the Sun, enabling the craft to collect data and capture images.

The satellite also has the Chinese name of "Xihe", which is the same name of the Sun Goddess who created the calendar in ancient Chinese mythology.

Chinese scientists discover new pattern of solar rotation

Chinese scientists discover new pattern of solar rotation

Tokyo stocks ended mixed Monday, as the broader market was lifted by gains on Wall Street late last week, along with impact from the possible measures taken by the Bank of Japan.

The benchmark Nikkei stock index, the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average, ended down 488.27 points, or 0.74 percent, from Friday at 65,528.09.

The broader Topix index, meanwhile, finished 6.00 points, or 0.15 percent, higher at 4,073.29.

The Topix index was supported by gains on Wall Street late last week following a stronger-than-expected S and P Global Purchasing Managers' Index for August, which eased concerns over an economic slowdown.

Meanwhile, the benchmark Nikkei index mostly traded in negative territory, as investors locked in gains on some technology shares, said analysts.

Timothy Pope, a market analyst for the China Global Television Network (CGTN), recapped the day.

"In Tokyo today the Nikkei 225 was down a little bit less than 0.7 percent lower. Its AI heavyweights were slipping again in the leadup to Nvidia earnings we are going to see later in the week. Quite a few of the big names on the Nikkei are exposed to Nvidia. Advantest being one of them, (was) down 3.9 percent today, and tech investor SoftBank as another, down 5.3 percent," Pope said.

"But aside from the AI results, this week is increasingly a will-they-won't-they story about the Bank of Japan and interest rates. The market consensus seems to be swinging more towards expecting another rate hike in September. The BOJ's inflation reading will come out on Tuesday, that's for underline inflation, just before the market closes. There is also going to be a speech from the BOJ Deputy Governor Ryozo Himino on Thursday that I think the market will be watching pretty closely," he said.

Tokyo stocks end mixed on Wall Street gains, tech losses