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Author(s): James A. Klimchuk [1] Journey From the Center of the Sun by Jack B. Zirker Princeton University Press: 2002. 312 pp. $29.95, £19.95 The Sun has been a source [...]

Occurrences of explosive energy releases are fairly common on the Sun where temperatures rise above its surface temperature, and a magnetic field is often the only source of energy to power such explosions. The reasons for a sudden release of solar magnetism continue to be debated, with the process of magnetic reconnection seen as the most widely accepted explanation. A new report by D.E. Innes and colleagues provides evidence of bi-directional outflow jets, which are part of the reconnection process theory, as seen in the ultraviolet spectra from the ESA-NASA Solar and Heliospheric Observatory. The case for magnetic reconnection has also been reinforced by recent observations from the Yohkoh satellite.