That star at the center of our Solar System, that superhot ball of plasma that gives us heat and energy, and amazing complexions… well, it’s a ticking time bomb. The Sun is about 10 billion years old.

People sometimes ask what would happen if the Sun suddenly exploded, often after seeing a dramatic film or picture online. It is an understandable question, especially for children, because the Sun ...

For billions of years before reaching its current location, the Sun may have slowly travelled as part of a large group, or “wave,” of stars drifting out from the inner parts of the Milky Way. This ...