The sun in a particularly active phase is letting off solar flares and is covered in sunspots.
The bright light of a solar flare on the left side of the sun in an image taken in June 2013.
  • The sun is entering a period of peak activity that will last several years, an expert said.
  • This means the sun will produce more solar flares, powerful bursts of energy.
  • Solar flares can disrupt radio communications and electric power grids on Earth.

The sun is waking up after almost a decade of relative calm, scientists say — and that could cause problems on Earth.