Parker's work on solar wind

Eugene Parker’s pioneering work revealed that the Sun constantly emits a stream of charged particles called the solar wind, which flows outward through space. He proposed that this solar wind is a continuous, high-speed flow resulting from the Sun’s hot corona expanding due to thermal energy. His theories explained how the solar wind affects Earth's magnetic environment and contributes to phenomena like auroras. Despite initial skepticism, Parker’s work fundamentally changed our understanding of solar and space physics, demonstrating that the Sun’s influence extends far beyond its surface, shaping the space environment throughout the solar system.