Sun’s magnetic interior mapped for first time using 30 years of data

A recent study has, for the first time, successfully mapped the Sun’s internal magnetic field by reconstructing a three-dimensional model using nearly 30 years of satellite data from 1996 to 2025. The Sun’s magnetic field, generated by the solar dynamo deep beneath its surface, drives the roughly 11-year solar cycles characterized by sunspots and bursts of energy affecting Earth’s space environment. Since direct measurements of the Sun’s interior magnetic fields are impossible, the researchers used daily surface magnetic field maps as inputs to a sophisticated computer model that continuously adjusted to remain physically consistent. This data-driven approach allowed them to infer the hidden magnetic structures and flows inside the Sun responsible for observed surface patterns. The model was validated by accurately reproducing multiple past solar cycles, including key features such as the migration of sunspots toward the equator and polar magnetic field evolution. Furthermore, it demonstrated predictive power by forecasting major solar activity features up to three or four years in advance without new input data. This breakthrough