Dr. Mojtaba Akhavan-Tafti, a research faculty member at U-M Climate and Space, was featured in the article, “Earth has a space tornado problem” for Popular Science. The article highlights how solar storms can cause their own kinds of havoc, just like severe thunderstorms on Earth. | October 6, 2025
Tag: space weather
“Spacecraft Equipped with a Solar Sail Could Deliver Earlier Warnings of Space Weather Threats to Earth’s Technologies”
Dr. Mojtaba Akhavan-Tafti, a research faculty member at U-M Climate and Space, was featured in the article, “Spacecraft Equipped with a Solar Sail Could Deliver Earlier Warnings of Space Weather Threats to Earth’s Technologies” for The Conversation. The article highlights how solar sails, as deployed in the SWIFT mission, could improve protections against space Continue Reading »
A Vision for Safer Space Exploration with the CLEAR Center
The CLEAR Center, a Space Weather Center of Excellence at the University of Michigan, works to improve forecasting of solar energetic particles that emerge from a solar eruption, with speeds nearly reaching the speed of light, which follow the spiral shape of the solar wind’s magnetic fields into interplanetary space.
“NASA, NOAA: Sun Reaches Maximum Phase in 11-Year Solar Cycle”
Elsayed Talaat, director of space weather operations at NOAA and a U-M Climate and Space alumnus, was featured in “NASA, NOAA: Sun Reaches Maximum Phase in 11-Year Solar Cycle” for the NASA Newsroom. Representatives from NASA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the international Solar Cycle Prediction Panel announced that the Sun Continue Reading »
Seeing the Sun in a New Light
For University of Michigan researchers who have dedicated their careers to building a better understanding of the sun, the eclipse holds a different allure: the chance to gather scientific data that’s normally overshadowed by the sun’s blinding light in the visible spectrum and the constant buzz of radio noise at longer electromagnetic wavelengths.
“Space Weather is a Growing Threat. This New NASA Center Aims to Help Protect Us”
A new space weather forecasting center at the University of Michigan seeks to improve solar weather forecasting. The CLEAR Center was featured in an article on Space.com titled “Space Weather is a Growing Threat. This New NASA Center Aims to Help Protect Us” | November 2023
$9.7M for Tools to Improve Forecasts of Harmful Space Weather
Space weather predictions are neither accurate nor timely, and that leaves astronauts without enough time to react to dangerous particles flung out by the sun. Now, NASA is providing $9.7 million to establish a Space Weather Center of Excellence