--- title: "Sun Suddenly Blasts Powerful Radio Transmission for 19 Continuous Days" description: "Four various NASA craft have observed what is understood to be the longest blast of solar radio waves ever recorded." date: "2026-05-24" modified: "2026-05-24" authors: - name: "Joe Wilkins" job_title: "Correspondent" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/jwilkins" url: "https://futurism.com/space/sun-radio-waves-19-days" categories: - "NASA" - "Space" --- # Sun Suddenly Blasts Powerful Radio Transmission for 19 Continuous Days ![The image shows a solar eclipse with the dark silhouette of the Moon partially covering the Sun. Surrounding the Moon is the Sun's corona, visible as bright, wispy, and radiating streams of plasma extending outward into space against a dark blue background.]() *Miloslav Druckmüller, Peter Aniol, Shadia Habbal/NASA Goddard, Joy Ng* The Sun has broken a new record for continuous radio wave transmissions, blasting a powerful signal four times longer than any other similar phenomenon ever recorded. Data from the cosmic outburst, published [in *The Astrophysical Journal Letters*](), details the record-breaking event, which lasted from August 21st to September 9th of 2025 — setting a record of 19 full days. To be fair to the Sun, it's entirely possible — very likely, really — that this has happened before. What makes the event stand out is the fact that we've been able to observe it for the first time in human history, using craft from four various NASA missions to record radio waves produced by electrons trapped within the star's magnetic field. According [to *IFL Science*](), the rare Sun communique was first spotted by the [Solar Orbiter](), a Sun-observing satellite launched by the European Space Agency and NASA in 2020. Normally, that would've been the end of it, as the longest previously recorded Sun-burst lasted just five days. However, 12 days after the Solar Orbiter made its recordings, NASA's [Parker Solar Probe]() observed the same radio burst, along with [the agency's Wind spacecraft](), which is designed to observe solar winds in transit to Earth. They were soon followed by NASA's [STEREO-A]() craft, which was used to track the source of the radio blast to a funnel-type structure in the outermost layer of the Sun's atmosphere. Fortunately, this type of radio blast is harmless, unlike some other types of solar events which can [knock out satellites]() or have devastating health effects on [astronauts](). Still, the data collected during the event represents a veritable treasure trove for scientists, whose work on space weather could be crucial for predicting the kinds of Sun events that may actually pose a threat. **More on space:** *[Scientists Detect Weird Anomalies in Clouds of Venus]()* ## Author At Futurism, I focus on the intersection of technology and power — examining the economics, history, and politics behind today’s dystopian headlines. As a writer, I’m interested in topics ranging from AI’s impact on labor to startups nobody asked for. My prior work includes bylines in Jacobin, Verso, and Blue Labyrinths. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Forbes, The Guardian, MIT Technology Review, Time, The Nation, Mother Jones, The Verge, and Wired. I grew up in Michigan, attending Central Michigan University as well as Ball State University, where I earned a master of music. I now live in Brooklyn with my girlfriend and our cat Ziti. On weekends, you can find me hunched over a cold pint arguing geopolitics with the other transplants. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()