The Sun regularly produces explosions that hurl huge clouds of charged particles into space. Such a cloud travels toward Earth and can knock out satellites, disrupt radio communications, and even leave cities without electricity. For a long time, scientists couldn't understand why these eruptions don't start immediately but seem to hesitate before the leap.

A new study recreated such an eruption on a computer using data from real observations of an active region on the Sun. It turned out that the magnetic loop from which the eruption is born goes through three stages. First, it rises slowly. Then it gets stuck at nearly the same height — held by the magnetic field pulling downward like an invisible rubber band. Finally, a rapid reconnection of magnetic field lines occurs beneath the loop, giving it a powerful upward push.

The model predicted the moment of the push with remarkable accuracy, just one minute later than it actually happened. If we can learn to predict such events in advance, we can protect technology on Earth and in space from solar 'gusts'.