Archive: Science Update: Space Weather: The Sun, Earth, and You, December 4, 2025

The Sun is constantly churning and bubbling. In addition to the radiation that supports life on Earth, the Sun often releases particles energetic enough to harm Earth-based and near-Earth assets. Just like meteorologists are able to interpret weather patterns and draw conclusions about the formation of hurricanes, dust storms, and tornados, NOAA warns us about impending solar events and their potential impacts on Earth and monitors the variable conditions on the Sun that concern humans.

Dr. Spann, as part of the Office of Space Weather Observations, will discuss the physics of our closest star, clues that help us predict major solar activity, and a new Lagrange 1 solar observatory launching in 2025. We hope participants will leave the event with a deepened understanding of the physics of space weather and the way humans monitor and mitigate the impact of solar activity.

All individuals receive a certificate of participation and 100 NSTA activity points for attending the live seminar and completing the end-of-program survey. A certificate of participation is not awarded for watching the recorded version of the program.

We invite you to register for upcoming web seminars at NSTA.

View the Archive Video

To view the presentation slides from the web seminar and related resources, visit the resource collection. Continue discussing this topic in the community forums.

Below are comments from individuals who attended the seminar:

  • "I enjoyed the speaker and how entertaining and passionate he was about the topic."
  • "I really enjoyed the comprehensive breakdown of how space weather impacts both Earth and human activities. The most interesting part for me was learning about solar storms and their potential effects on communication systems and power grids. I had no idea how such solar events could disrupt satellite communications or even cause power outages on Earth."
  • "The slides were so life like! They felt very interactive and kept me engaged! The webinar was very informative and detailed."
  • "The visuals showing solar activity, solar wind, auroras, and the magnetosphere made complex ideas very understandable. I also appreciated learning about the international collaborations and the instruments at Lagrange Point 1 that monitor the Sun and provide early warning of storms. The speaker explained both the science and the societal importance in a very engaging way."

A certificate of attendance was deposited into participants' account page for completing the evaluation form at the end of the program.

For more information contact us.

NSTA Press produces classroom-ready activities, hands-on approaches to inquiry, relevant professional development, the latest scientific education news and research, assessment and standards-based instruction.

Learn More