Insight into the solar cycle increases current mystery

Not much I can add to this, except for a link to a great CME video. (CME is a coronal mass ejection, and Do Not Think that it means anything except that.)

Sun's strange behavior baffles astronomers

"[NASA solar scientist] Hathaway predicts that cycle 24 should reach its peak in mid-2013 at about half the size of the last three cycles."

At least there have been a few sunspots, when last I checked, but there aren't any today (June 17) (http://www.spaceweather.com/)

Here's the CME:




And here's where there's a movie of it:

Ring of fire