Tracking Solar Supergranulation: How the Sun’s Surface Patterns Evolve Over Its Magnetic Cycle
This study tracks how the Sun’s supergranulation, a surface flow pattern, varies over its magnetic cycle and impacts exoplanet detection. Using HARPS-N data and two correction methods, the authors found that supergranulation timescales are longest during solar minimum. They also show that observing strategies must account for this variability to improve planet-hunting precision, both for the Sun and other stars.
Is the Sun Really That Special? A Closer Look at Its Chemical Makeup
Carlos et al. studied 50 Sun-like stars to investigate whether the Sun's unusual chemical makeup is due to its planets. They found no strong link between giant planets and the Sun’s low refractory element content. Instead, the differences are better explained by the Galaxy’s chemical evolution. The Sun is slightly unusual, but not uniquely so.