Hydrogen molecules may act as a kind of energy sink that strengthens the magnetic grip that causes sunspots, according to scientists from Hawaii and New Mexico using a new infrared instrument on an old telescope.

ESA's Cluster satellites have discovered that cosmic particle accelerators are more efficient than previously thought. The discovery has revealed the initial stages of acceleration for the first time, a process that could apply across the Universe.

Telescopes has spotted sunspots since 1611. While the sun had long been thought to be an unchanging, "perfect" orb, sky-watchers observed black sunspots on the sun's surface that circled around as with the sun's rotation.