Geomagnetic disturbances caused by the Sun influence the occurrence of heart attacks, especially among women

To reach this conclusion, Brazilian researchers cross-referenced data obtained from the local public health network with data from an indicator of variations in the Earth’s geomagnetic field. The study was published in the journal Communications Medicin

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo

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An article published in the journal Communications Medicine points to a correlation between disturbances in the Earth’s magnetic field resulting from solar storms and an increase in the frequency of heart attacks, especially among women.

The authors reached this conclusion by analyzing data from the public health network of São José dos Campos, in the state of São Paulo, Brazil, recorded between 1998 and 2005, a period considered to be one of intense solar activity. Focusing on hospital admissions for myocardial infarction, the analysis included information from 871 men and 469 women. Data from the Planetary Index (Kp-Index), an indicator of variations in the Earth’s geomagnetic field, were also incorporated into the statistical analysis.

“We classified the days analyzed as calm, moderate, or disturbed. And the health data were divided by sex and age group [up to 30 years old; between 31 and 60; over 60 years old]. It’s worth noting that the number of heart attacks among men is almost twice as high – regardless of geomagnetic conditions. But when we look at the relative frequency rate of cases, we find that for women, it’s significantly higher during disturbed geomagnetic conditions compared to calm conditions. In the 31-60 age group, it’s up to three times higher. Therefore, our results suggest that women are more susceptible to geomagnetic conditions,” Luiz Felipe Campos de Rezende, a researcher at Brazil’s National Institute for Space Research (INPE) and the corresponding author of the article, told Agência FAPESP.

As Rezende explains, geomagnetic disturbances are caused by the impact of the solar wind on the magnetosphere, the outermost region of the atmosphere where the solar wind meets the Earth’s magnetic field. The effects of these disturbances on satellite communications and global positioning systems (GPS) are well known.

Since the late 1970s, studies conducted in the Northern Hemisphere have suggested that magnetic particles ejected by the Sun may also have an impact on human health, particularly the cardiovascular system. Data from these studies suggest possible explanations, such as changes in blood pressure, heart rate, and circadian rhythm, which regulates the sleep-wake cycle and all bodily functions. However, this remains an open scientific question.

“This is the first study on the subject conducted in our latitudes, but it isn’t conclusive. Therefore, the intention isn’t to cause alarm among the population, particularly among women. There are some limitations to consider: this is an observational study conducted in a single city, using a sample size that isn’t yet ideal for medical questions. However, we believe that these findings represent an empirical result of hypothetical significance and relevance that shouldn’t be disregarded in the scientific context,” the researcher says.

This also appears to be the first, or at least one of the few studies, to suggest that women are more susceptible to geomagnetic disturbances. The article did not explore the causes of this phenomenon. “We didn’t find any significant publications on this subject in the literature. It’s a question for future studies,” Rezende points out.

Prediction and prevention

The Sun undergoes cycles of increased and decreased magnetic activity, averaging 11 years. It is estimated that the “solar maximum” phase occurred between late 2024 and early 2025. This is the period of the cycle with the highest magnetic activity. According to experts, 2025 will be a year of high solar activity. However, it is worth noting that disturbances in the Earth’s magnetic field occur sporadically. INPE maintains a website that monitors these variations.

“Scientists around the world have been trying to predict the occurrence of geomagnetic disturbances, but the accuracy, for now, isn’t good. When this type of service is more advanced – and if the impact of magnetic disturbances on the heart is confirmed – we’ll be able to consider prevention strategies from a public health perspective, especially for individuals who already suffer from heart problems,” Rezende says.

About São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP)
The São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) is a public institution with the mission of supporting scientific research in all fields of knowledge by awarding scholarships, fellowships and grants to investigators linked with higher education and research institutions in the State of São Paulo, Brazil. FAPESP is aware that the very best research can only be done by working with the best researchers internationally. Therefore, it has established partnerships with funding agencies, higher education, private companies, and research organizations in other countries known for the quality of their research and has been encouraging scientists funded by its grants to further develop their international collaboration. You can learn more about FAPESP at www.fapesp.br/en and visit FAPESP news agency at www.agencia.fapesp.br/en to keep updated with the latest scientific breakthroughs FAPESP helps achieve through its many programs, awards and research centers. You may also subscribe to FAPESP news agency at http://agencia.fapesp.br/subscribe. 

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DOI

10.1038/s43856-025-00887-7 

Article Title

Influence of geomagnetic disturbances on myocardial infarctions in women and men from Brazil

SPACE/COSMOS

Unlocking the secrets of the Sun’s poles

Beijing Zhongke Journal Publising Co. Ltd.

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 Image courtesy of Zhenyong Hou and Jiasheng Wang at Peking University

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Credit: Beijing Zhongke Journal Publising Co. Ltd.

The Sun’s poles are one of the last uncharted frontiers in solar physics. While space-based satellites and ground-based telescopes have provided extraordinary views of the solar surface, atmosphere, and magnetic field, our vantage point has usually been constrained to the ecliptic plane — the thin slice of space in which the Earth and most other planets orbit around the Sun. This perspective leaves the high-latitude polar regions of the Sun poorly observed and understood. Yet, the magnetic fields and dynamic processes in these regions play a crucial role in the solar magnetic cycle and in supplying mass and energy to the fast solar wind, ultimately being vital in controlling solar activities and driving space weather.

 

Why the Poles Matter

At first glance, the Sun’s poles may appear quiet compared to the active regions located approximately between latitudes of ±35°, where sunspots, solar flares, and coronal mass ejections (CMEs) dominate. However, the magnetic fields in the solar polar regions participate in the solar global dynamo process and may serve as a seed field for the subsequent solar cycle, characterizing the solar dipole magnetic field. Additionally, the in-situ measurements obtained by the Ulysses spacecraft reveal that  the fast solar wind largely originates from big coronal holes in the polar regions. Thus, understanding the Sun’s poles is essential for answering three of the most pressing questions in solar physics:

 

1. How does the solar dynamo work and drive the solar magnetic cycle?

The solar magnetic cycle refers to the periodic variation in sunspot number on the solar surface, typically on a time scale of approximately 11 years. During each cycle, the Sun’s magnetic poles undergo a reversal, with the magnetic polarities of the north and south poles switching. The Sun’s global magnetic fields are generated through a dynamo process. Key to this process are the differential rotation of the Sun that generates the active regions, and the meridional circulation that transport magnetic flux toward the poles. Yet, decades of helioseismic investigations have revealed conflicting results about the flow patterns deep within the convection zone. Some studies even suggest poleward flows at the base of the convection zone, challenging the classical dynamo models. High-latitude observations of the magnetic fields and plasma motions could provide the missing evidence to refine or rethink these models.

 

1. What drives the fast solar wind?

The fast solar wind - a supersonic stream of charged particles - originates primarily from the polar coronal holes, and permeates the majority of the heliospheric volume, dominating the physical environment of interplanetary space. However, critical details regarding the origin of this wind remain unresolved. Does the wind originate from dense plumes within coronal holes or from the less dense regions between them? Are wave-driven processes, magnetic reconnection, or some combination of both responsible for accelerating the plasma in the wind? Direct polar imaging and in-situ measurements are required to settle the debate.

 

1. How do space weather events propagate through the solar system?

Heliospheric space weather refers to the disturbances in the heliospheric environment caused by the solar wind and solar eruptive activities. Extreme space weather events, such as large solar flares and CMEs, can significantly trigger space environmental disturbances such as severe geomagnetic and ionospheric storms, as well as spectacular aurora phenomena, posing a serious threat to the safety of high-tech activities of human beings. To accurately predict these events, scientists must track how magnetic structures and plasma flows evolve globally, not just from the limited ecliptic view. Observations from vantage point out of the ecliptic would provide an overlook of the CME propagation in the ecliptic plane.

 

Past Efforts

Scientists have long recognized the importance of solar polar observations. The Ulysses mission, launched in 1990, was the first spacecraft to leave the ecliptic plane and sample the solar wind over the poles. Its in-situ instruments confirmed key properties of the fast solar wind but lacked imaging capability. More recently, the European Space Agency’s Solar Orbiter has been gradually moving out of the ecliptic plane and is expected to reach latitudes of around 34° in a few years. While this represents a remarkable progress, it still falls far short of the vantage needed for a true polar view.

A number of ambitious mission concepts have been proposed over the past decades, including the Solar Polar Imager (SPI), the POLAR Investigation of the Sun (POLARIS), the Solar Polar ORbit Telescope (SPORT), the Solaris mission, and the High Inclination Solar Mission (HISM). Some envisioned using advanced propulsion such as solar sails to reach high inclinations. Others relied on gravity assists to incrementally tilt their orbits. Each of these missions would carry both remote-sensing and in-situ instruments to image the Sun’s poles and measure key physical parameters above the poles.

 

The SPO Mission

The Solar Polar-orbit Observatory (SPO) is designed specifically to overcome the limitations of past and current missions. Scheduled for launch in January 2029, SPO will use a Jupiter gravity assist (JGA) to bend its trajectory out of the ecliptic plane. After several Earth flybys and a carefully planned encounter with Jupiter, the spacecraft will settle into a 1.5-year orbit with a perihelion of about 1 AU and an inclination of up to 75°. In its extended mission, SPO could climb to 80°, offering the most direct view of the poles ever achieved.

The 15-year lifetime of the mission (including an 8-year extended mission period) will allow it to cover both solar minimum and maximum, including the crucial period around 2035 when the next solar maximum and expected polar magnetic field reversal will occur. During the whole lifetime, SPO will repeatedly pass over both poles, with extended high-latitude observation windows lasting more than 1000 days.

The SPO mission aims at breakthroughs on the three scientific questions mentioned above. To meet its ambitious objectives, SPO will carry a suite of several remote-sensing and in-situ instruments. Together, they will provide a comprehensive view of the Sun’s poles. The remote-sensing instruments include the Magnetic and Helioseismic Imager (MHI) to measure magnetic fields and plasma flows at the surface, the Extreme Ultraviolet Telescope (EUT) and the X-ray Imaging Telescope (XIT) to capture dynamic events in the solar upper atmosphere, the VISible-light CORonagraph (VISCOR) and the Very Large Angle CORonagraph (VLACOR) to track the solar corona and solar wind streams out to 45 solar radii (at 1 AU). The in-situ package includes a magnetometer and particle detectors to sample the solar wind and interplanetary magnetic field directly. By combining these observations, SPO will not only capture images of the poles for the first time but also connect them to the flows of plasma and magnetic energy that shape the heliosphere.

SPO will not operate in isolation. It is expected to work in concert with a growing fleet of solar missions. These include the STEREO Mission, the Hinode satellite, the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO), the Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph (IRIS), the Advanced Space-based Solar Observatory (ASO-S), the Solar Orbiter, the Aditya-L1 mission, the PUNCH mission, as well as the upcoming L5 missions (e.g., ESA’s Vigil mission and China’s LAVSO mission). Together, these assets will form an unprecedented observational network. SPO’s polar vantage will provide the missing piece, enabling nearly global 4π coverage of the Sun for the first time in human history.

 

Looking Ahead

The Sun remains our closest star, yet in many ways it is still a mystery. With SPO, scientists are poised to unlock some of its deepest secrets. The solar polar regions, once hidden from view, will finally come into focus, reshaping our understanding of the star that sustains life on Earth.

The implications of SPO extend far beyond academic curiosity. A deeper understanding of the solar dynamo could improve predictions of the solar cycle, which in turn affect space weather forecasts. Insights into the fast solar wind will enhance our ability to model the heliospheric environment, critical for spacecraft design and astronaut safety. Most importantly, better monitoring of space weather events could help protect modern technological infrastructure — from navigation and communications satellites to aviation and terrestrial power systems.

 

See the article：

Probing Solar Polar Regions https://www.cjss.ac.cn/cn/article/doi/10.11728/cjss2025.04.2025-0054

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Journal

Chinese Journal of Space Science

DOI

10.11728/cjss2025.04.2025-0054 

Article Title

Probing Solar Polar Regions

Northern Lights feature in today’s weather report… from a rogue planet

Trinity College Dublin

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An artistic impression of SIMP-0136.

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Credit: Dr Evert Nasedkin

Strong Northern Lights-like activity is the standout feature of today’s weather report, which is coming at you from a strange, extrasolar world, instead of a standard TV studio. That is thanks to astronomers from Trinity College Dublin, who used the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope to take a close look at the weather of a toasty nearby rogue planet, SIMP-0136.

The exquisite sensitivity of the instruments on board the space-based telescope enabled the team to see minute changes in brightness of the planet as it rotated, which were used to track changes in temperature, cloud cover and chemistry. 

Surprisingly, these observations also illuminated SIMP-0136’s strong auroral activity, similar to the Northern Lights here on Earth or the powerful aurora on Jupiter, which heat up its upper atmosphere.

“These are some of the most precise measurements of the atmosphere of any extra-solar object to date, and the first time that changes in the atmospheric properties have been directly measured,” said Dr Evert Nasedkin, a Postdoctoral Fellow in Trinity College Dublin’s School of Physics, who is the lead author of the research article just published in leading international journal, Astronomy & Astrophysics. 

“And at over 1,500 °C, SIMP-0136 makes this summer’s heat wave look mild,” he continued. “The precise observations we made meant we could accurately record temperature changes smaller than 5 °C. These changes in temperature were related to subtle changes in the chemical composition of this free-floating planet, which is suggestive of storms – similar to Jupiter’s Great Red Spot – rotating into view.”

Another surprise finding was the lack of variability of the clouds on SIMP-0136. One might expect changes in the cloud coverage to lead to changes in the atmosphere, similar to observing patches of clouds and blue sky here on Earth. Instead, the team found that the cloud coverage was constant over the surface of SIMP-0136. At the temperatures of SIMP-0136 these clouds are unlike those on earth, instead composed of silicate grains, similar to sand on a beach. 

This is the first publication from the new ‘Exo-Aimsir’ group led by Prof. Johanna Vos in Trinity’s School of Physics, and includes contributions from all the group members, including PhD candidates Merle Schrader, Madeline Lam and Cian O’Toole.

These data were initially published by a similar team led by Allison McCarthy at Boston University, but the new analysis has revealed more details about the atmosphere. 

“Different wavelengths of light are related to different atmospheric features. Similar to observing the changes in colour over the surface of the earth, the changes in the colour of SIMP-0136 are driven by changes in the atmospheric properties,” added Dr. Nasedkin. “So by using cutting-edge models, we could infer the temperature of the atmosphere, the chemical composition, and the position of the clouds.” 

Prof. Vos said: “This work is exciting because it shows that by applying our state-of-the-art modelling techniques to cutting-edge datasets from JWST, we can begin to piece together the processes that drive weather in worlds beyond our solar system. Understanding these weather processes will be crucial as we continue to discover and characterise exoplanets in the future.”

“While for now these types of spectroscopic variability observations are limited to isolated brown dwarfs, like this one, future observations with the Extremely Large Telescope and eventually the Habitable Worlds Observatory will enable the study of the atmospheric dynamics of exoplanets, from Jupiter-like gas giants to rocky worlds.”

Rotation of SIMP-0136 [VIDEO] 

On the right we see the changes in brightness observed during a single rotation period as observed with the NIRSpec/PRISM instrument on board the James Webb Space Telescope. These small changes in the brightness are the key to understanding the different physical processes that cause the variability, including changes in the temperature and heating from an aurora.

Credit

Dr Evert Nasedkin.

Journal

Astronomy and Astrophysics

DOI

10.1051/0004-6361/202555370 

Framatome and ENEA aim to power Moon settlements

Friday, 26 September 2025

 World Nuclear News

France's Framatome and the Italian Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Development, ENEA, are to explore advanced technological solutions for nuclear reactors to power future settlements on the Moon.
 

(Image: ENEA)

The memorandum of understanding covers three areas: studies regarding the fuel required for the reactor, with a view to ensuring both efficiency and safety; the development of new materials capable of withstanding the extreme conditions in space; and the use of additive manufacturing for reactor components.

Framatome said that "with the equivalent of 14 Earth-days of darkness each lunar night and temperatures of -130°C on the lunar surface, nuclear power will give us the means to stay for extended periods in space by providing a a safe, reliable long-lasting source of energy".

Grégoire Lambert, Vice President of Framatome Space, said: "The overall success of such developments will require different European competencies; we are happy to be part of the adventure."

Alessandro Dodaro, Director of ENEA's Nuclear Department, said: "Pooling and integrating our expertise together with Framatome is a stepping stone for increasing the international outreach of our activities on surface nuclear reactors, which is a precondition for success in such a complex technological endeavour. Furthermore, the collaboration will enable the development of even more competitive technical solutions so to push further the industrial maturity of the sector."

There are a number of different projects looking at using nuclear technology to power future infrastructure and settlements on the Moon, with Framatome saying: "This agreement marks an essential stage in space exploration and the sustainable use of lunar resources. Increasing the technological maturity of nuclear reactors for surface applications will widen Europe's portfolio of knowledge and capabilities, a vital asset in the race to return of humans to the Moon and in preparing for future voyages to Mars."

 

Protecting the protectors: as measles cases surge, how can we help healthcare workers get vaccinated?

Frontiers

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In recent years, measles has made a resurgence globally. In England, 2024 saw the highest number of confirmed measles cases since 2012, resulting in the declaration of a national incident. One reason for this is falling vaccination rates, prompted — to some extent — by the success of established measles vaccination programmes, which has reduced public awareness of the contagiousness and potentially serious complications of measles. 

Measles is often erroneously thought to be a childhood disease. Yet approximately one-third of the 2,911 cases confirmed in England in 2024, and six of the seven measles-related deaths since 2000, were in adults. Healthcare workers  are at the frontline of outbreak containment and patient care. Their occupational exposure means they are at higher risk of catching measles than the general population. However, studies across Europe have shown that concerning proportions of healthcare workers are not immune to measles, meaning they are more susceptible to infection and could spread the virus among vulnerable patient populations. Our article explored barriers and motivators to measles vaccination among a group of 23 female healthcare workers at a London hospital. 

Raising the profile of measles vaccination

The interviews showed that knowledge of measles and measles vaccination was generally low, due to a lack of personal or professional experience with measles, which did not feature prominently in participants’ healthcare training. A lack of awareness of the symptoms, contagiousness, and potential complications of measles can delay the diagnosis of infected patients and lower the perceived need for vaccination. Those who are hesitant may also choose not to be vaccinated, due to the low perceived risk of being exposed to measles and the notion that it is a childhood disease that their body will be able to fight. 

A now-discredited article published in 1998 that linked the combined measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine to autism also remains present in the minds of some healthcare workers. Almost half of the interviewees spontaneously referred to autism, although only a small number gave this as a reason for not being vaccinated or not vaccinating their children.  

In addition, there is a considerable proportion of healthcare workers who do not know their measles vaccination status (ten of the 23 participants in our study). This is not surprising, considering that measles forms part of the childhood vaccination schedule and few adults will remember receiving their childhood vaccines, meaning they rely on their parents, GP or hospital occupational health department for up-to-date vaccination records. Access may be especially difficult if healthcare workers have emigrated from their country of birth. Unsurprisingly, the idea of an app or platform where healthcare workers could easily access and manage their vaccination records was popular.

Ensuring healthcare workers are aware of their vaccination status, providing them with better training, engaging them in discussions about the risks of measles, and, importantly, the safety and effectiveness of the MMR vaccine may help to increase awareness and alleviate concerns, and is therefore an important public health priority. 

Strengthening vaccine screening

Many hospitals, including the one in our study, screen for measles vaccination as part of their pre-employment screening. This often relies on self-report or the transfer of records, but the. application of screening protocols can be inconsistent and record-keeping poor. Several participants did not recall if measles formed part of their screening or described it as a tick box exercise. There was greater awareness of hepatitis B vaccination, partly because this requires regular boosters. 

Prior research found that only 48 of 104 hospital trusts in England recorded their staff’s MMR vaccination status on a central database and 16 recorded staff eligibility for the MMR vaccine. Patient-facing healthcare workers who cannot confirm prior measles infection or vaccination with at least one dose tend to be offered vaccination with or without prior immunity testing. 

Placing more emphasis on measles vaccination alongside regular educational and awareness campaigns underlines a hospital’s commitment to, and thus emphasises the importance of, measles vaccination. While expanding immunity testing to all healthcare workers may not be financially and logistically practical for many trusts, screening protocols should ensure all patient-facing staff, including those who move from non-patient-facing to patient-facing roles within a trust, are screened and accurate records of staff vaccinations are kept.

Reframing vaccination as patient care

Healthcare workers with an uncertain vaccination status were generally positive about measles vaccination, but suggested that having to find out their status and make time for vaccination appointments constituted a barrier because of their time constraints. Several interviewees routinely prioritized patient care over what they considered personal chores. Using prompts and reminders, reframing measles vaccination as a means to protect vulnerable patients and the wider community, and action from employers to make it easier for busy healthcare workers to take time to get vaccinated would further underline the importance of measles vaccination and may help those who want to be vaccinated. 

Healthcare workers are at the frontline of our defence against resurging diseases such as measles, and it is vital that they are protected. However, if we want them to prioritize measles vaccination, hospitals and other healthcare facilities should continue to campaign for improved vaccination uptake. Improving screening processes in hospitals and holding regular educational campaigns can help to raise awareness of the risks of measles and the benefits of vaccination, and serve as a nudge for those who are unsure. 
 

 

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Journal

Frontiers in Public Health

DOI

10.3389/fpubh.2025.1621699 

Method of Research

Survey

Subject of Research

People

Article Title

A qualitative interview study exploring barriers and facilitators to uptake of measles vaccination among healthcare workers at a London hospital

Article Publication Date

26-Sep-2025

COI Statement

GJR declares payments for research funding, consultancy, speaker fees, advisory board membership and expert witness work relating to Sanofi, AstraZeneca and other life science companies. LES acts as a consultant to the Sanofi group of companies and has supported an expert witness case involving a life sciences company.

Measles vaccination coverage after a post-elimination outbreak

JAMA Network Open

About The Study: 

In this repeated cross-sectional study of 149,000 children in a large central Ohio primary care network during the 20 months after outbreak onset, all measures of measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) coverage remained well below the 93% herd immunity threshold. These persistent, population-wide immunity gaps suggest the need for sustained, equity-focused public health strategies to maintain measles elimination.

Corresponding Author: To contact the corresponding author, Rosemary A. Martoma, MD, MBChB, email rose@kidsmates.org.

To access the embargoed study: Visit our For The Media website at this link https://media.jamanetwork.com/

(doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.33732)

Editor’s Note: Please see the article for additional information, including other authors, author contributions and affiliations, conflict of interest and financial disclosures, and funding and support.

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Journal

JAMA Network Open