ESA's Solar Orbiter Traces Magnetic Switchbacks in Solar Wind Back to Sun's Surface

The European Space Agency's Solar Orbiter spacecraft has made a significant scientific discovery by tracing the origin of magnetic switchbacks in the solar wind back to the Sun's surface. By analyzing elusive particles within a large switchback, the mission has revealed new insights into solar magnetism, which is crucial for understanding solar storms. This observation provides a crucial piece of the puzzle regarding how these S-shaped kinks in the solar wind's magnetic field form.