# Like an Avalanche: Wild Video Captures the Violent Trigger Behind Solar Flares

- Link: https://www.widthness.com/like-an-avalanche-wild-video-captures-the-violent-trigger-behind-solar-flares/
- Published: 2026-01-23T09:15:00-06:00
- Author: Curated by John Wysocki

Image: Screenshots from the video “Magnetic avalanche in action” – ESA Space Science Hub. Image credits: ESA & NASA / Solar Orbiter / EUI Team. CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO. Article by  Passant Rabie. Gizmodo – January 22, 2026. Research article: Astronomy & Astrophysics. Solar Orbiter captured the most detailed view of a solar flare, observing the build-up of events that lead to the explosion. On September 30, 2024, the Sun unleashed a powerful explosion, causing magnetic field lines to break and reconnect in a criss-cross pattern. A Sun-observing probe was there to watch it unfold, gathering unprecedented data that’s helping scientists better understand the mechanism behind solar flares. […] Click here to view original web page at www.gizmodo.com Video: Magnetic avalanche in action – ESA Space Science Hub Curated by John Wysocki See Full Bio