NASA’s Parker Solar Probe finds hidden barrier that explains the sun’s mysterious heat

NASA's Parker Solar Probe has discovered a "helicity barrier" that transforms how energy dissipates in the sun's atmosphere, explaining why the corona is hotter than the surface. This barrier occurs when magnetic field strength exceeds plasma pressure and becomes more prominent with greater imbalance between oppositely propagating plasma waves. The finding helps scientists understand coronal heating, solar wind acceleration, and similar processes in astrophysical plasmas throughout the universe.