There seems to be so many conflicting messages, I feel they don't know what's going on, nor do they seem to have any definitive answers.

Any thoughts?

any links?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8008473.stm

thanks thad

Sorry folks - I wasn't even drinking! - I forgot to post the link!

Any thoughts?

The thing about when people say things like "we haven't seen this for 100 years". It means it's happened before (and usually well before we allegedly polluted the planet) but we're still here.

Move along now, nothing to worry about folks.

The sun is at solar minimium, a normal low of sun spot activity - however it is quieter than it normally is during this part of the solar cycle.

Like all measured natural effects there is the average that is the mean against which highs and lows are measured and commented upon. So to balance out the current low I would expect a more active high cycle over the next 7 years or so. The risk with that later increase is CMEs interacting with Earth causing affects to GPS and other satellite and even ground based communication and even electrical power distribution.

You Are My Sunshine

My only sunshine.

You make me happy

When skies are grey.

You'll never know, dear,

How much I love you.

Please don't take my sunshine away

What are you worried about? We don't have to worry about global warming, we are all going to die from SARS. Sorry, no, Bird flu. sorry, no, Swine flu!!!

Baby don't worry 'bout a thing, cos every lil things gonna be alright...

# "Things can only get better......"

You are my sunshine

My only sunshine

You make me happy

When skies are grey

Would it be safe to assume that this is being caused by the sun having his hat on.

"The Sun ain't gonna shine anymore"

and next

"The Moon ain't gonna rise in the sky"

The Walker Brothers forecasted these events in 1965

Love sunny songs.

When the sun in the morning peeps over the hill

And kisses from roses round my window sill

Then my heart fills with gladness when I hear the thrill

Of the birds in the treetips on Mockingbird Hill

Go listen.........

http://www.imeem.com/shadow1676/music/LNPg...ckingbird-hill/

It's sometimes worrying when all these scientists get mega funding for their pet projects like climate change and they decide to do something about it. One plan is to launch millions of mirrors up into space between us and the sun to reflect some of the light and heat away from Earth.

You can just imagine the announcement:

"Well folks we've got some good news and some bad news about the great solar mirror project"

"The good news is that all the launches went absolutely perfect and all them millions of mirrors are in just the right position and are functioning perfectly"

"The bad news is that the sun has moved off it's hot cycle and is now cooling off so we now predict that in three years we'll all be frozen solid"

"But don't worry folks we have a master plan to combat this global cooling and all it requires is for every living person on the planet to convert to a diet of 100% brussels sprouts. If every person ate just 500kg of sprouts every day the methane produced would counterbalance the cooling effect of the mirrors and keep our planet habitable. Don't forget folks sprouts are good for you, didn't your mom always tell you that?"

It's sometimes worrying when all these scientists get mega funding for their pet projects like climate change and they decide to do something about it. One plan is to launch millions of mirrors up into space between us and the sun to reflect some of the light and heat away from Earth.

You can just imagine the announcement:

"Well folks we've got some good news and some bad news about the great solar mirror project"

"The good news is that all the launches went absolutely perfect and all them millions of mirrors are in just the right position and are functioning perfectly"

"The bad news is that the sun has moved off it's hot cycle and is now cooling off so we now predict that in three years we'll all be frozen solid"

"But don't worry folks we have a master plan to combat this global cooling and all it requires is for every living person on the planet to convert to a diet of 100% brussels sprouts. If every person ate just 500kg of sprouts every day the methane produced would counterbalance the cooling effect of the mirrors and keep our planet habitable. Don't forget folks sprouts are good for you, didn't your mom always tell you that?"

....and don't fergit ya broccoli

"Don't let the son (sun?) go down on me"

Well we are talking about Elton John - anything is possible.

Sun Has Dimmed..., any thoughts?

my thought is "because it's cloudy."

NASA's STEREO-B spacecraft is monitoring an active region hidden behind the sun's eastern limb. On May 5th, it produced an impressive coronal mass ejection (CME) and a burst of radio emissions signalling the passage of a shock wave through the sun's outer atmosphere. Activity has continued apace today, May 6th, with at least two more eruptions. The blast site is not yet visible from Earth, but the sun is turning the region toward us for a better view. Is a new-cycle sunspot in the offing? Readers with solar telescopes could see it emerge as early as May 7th or 8th. Visit http://spaceweather.com for images, movies and updates.

Source: SpaceWeather.

Ya mean, whether there is space?