Our Sun isn’t as stable as it looks. Every 11 years, it goes through a cycle of increasing and decreasing activity, driven by its magnetic field. During solar maximum, the Sun is more violent, spitting out solar flares and coronal mass ejections that can mess with satellites and power grids. At solar minimum, it calms down, with fewer sunspots and less solar wind. We’re currently heading toward solar maximum in 2025—expect more auroras and occasional disruptions.