<h3><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_neutrino_problem" rel="nofollow noreferrer">The Solar Neutrino Problem</a></h3>

<blockquote>
  <p>The solar neutrino problem concerned a large discrepancy between the
  flux of solar neutrinos as predicted from the Sun's luminosity and
  measured directly. The discrepancy was first observed in the mid-1960s
  and finally resolved around 2002.</p>
  
  <p>The flux of neutrinos at Earth is several tens of billions per square
  centimetre per second, mostly from the Sun's core. They are
  nevertheless hard to detect, because they interact very weakly with
  matter, traversing the whole Earth as light does thin air. Of the
  three types (flavors) of neutrinos known in the Standard Model of
  particle physics, the Sun produces only electron neutrinos. When
  neutrino detectors became sensitive enough to measure the flow of
  electron neutrinos from the Sun, the number detected was much lower
  than predicted. In various experiments, the number deficit was between
  one half and two thirds.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>The problem is practically solved today. It wasn't so until <span class="math-container">$\approx$</span> 2002. However, a little chance that we know something not enough well, still exists, but it is little.</p>

<p>The currently accepted solution of the problem is this: yes, we know the Sun enough well, but the neutrinos can change flavor on the way they reach us. Thus, for example, if an electron-neutrino becomes muon-neutrino, then the detectors capable to see only electron-neutrinos, won't detect it.</p>

<p>It is today a hot research topic in the particle physics, thus some surprising result in the future isn't yet closed out. The main problem is that the neutrino practically don't interact with anything (a light year of lead would stop half of them), so there are only <em>very</em> little possibilities to measure their properties.</p>

<h3><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KATRIN" rel="nofollow noreferrer">The KATRIN neutrino experiment</a></h3>

<blockquote>
  <p>KATRIN is a German acronym (Karlsruhe Tritium Neutrino Experiment) for
  an undertaking to measure the mass of the electron antineutrino with
  sub-eV precision by examining the spectrum of electrons emitted from
  the beta decay of tritium. The core of the apparatus is a 200-ton
  spectrometer. In 2015, the commissioning measurements on this
  spectrometer were completed, successfully verifying its basic vacuum,
  transmission and background properties. The experiment began
  running tests in October 2016. Regular measurements started
  2018-06-11, with a projected duration of 5 years.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>As far I know, too much surprising results aren't expected from this - most likely, the electron neutrino mass of some tenths of eV will be found, or possible the result will be that the experiment is not enough precise to find anything. (In this case, we will still get an "upper limit").</p>

<p>However, there is a little chance that some surprising result will happen.</p>

<p>For example, such a neutrino mass could be found, which can be explained only by some hyphotetical effect (like <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sterile_neutrino" rel="nofollow noreferrer">sterile neutrinos</a>, which might also contribute to the solution of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_matter" rel="nofollow noreferrer">dark matter</a> problem).</p>

<h3>The idea</h3>

<p>Go back to the 80ties, where a possible solution to the solar neutrino problem was a different working and internal structure of the Sun, which looks the same for us, but generates lesser neutrinos. By analogy, a similarly different Sun should be expected, which goes into a red giant phase soon. (Or, at least its luminosity will increase enough in the near future to make the Earth inhabitable).</p>

<p>Note, we also know a lot of other stars today, there are very good models running on big computers, and these are enough sophisticated to close this possibility out with a good probability. Thus, the Sun should be somehow exceptional on these results.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-02-08T11:00:08.270Z
How this is supposed to answer the Q?
Alchimista
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-02-08T11:15:26.930Z
@Alchimista The question asks for the most reasonable causal mechanism (on our current knowledge), which could cause a serious heating up of the Sun in the near future. After some thinking, I think this is that. I am surprised on your comment, I think it is well comprehensible in the answer. How is it unclear? I am fully open to clarify/extend/improve it.
peterh
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-02-08T11:27:13.903Z
Why would you try to improve an answer on an off-topic question?
Chappo Hasn't Forgotten
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-02-08T11:29:51.360Z
@Chappo I disagree that it is off-topic. The OP asks it for a non-scientific goal, it is true, but the astronomical part of the question is essentially this: *"What is the most reasonable causal mechanism for a faster/sooner heatup of the Sun?"* And, it has an objective, science-based answer. I think this answer is what I wrote.
peterh
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-02-08T13:31:47.360Z
I really don't understand. Perhaps you wanted to say that we don't know Sun very well so that it could get hotter or go red giant even before than somehow expected? Something like "we currently aren't sure of the timescale future evolution of Sun and as such a fictional novel can pose it warmer or bigger without much problems"?
Alchimista
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-02-08T15:14:13.530Z
This answer is signifcantly less plausible than, say, "Romulans planted a gold-pressed dilithium bomb in the center of our sun."
Carl Witthoft
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-02-08T10:16:39.547Z
2019-02-08T10:16:39.547Z
peterh
<p>I am writing a novel about what it will be like on earth 500 or so years before the death of our Sun. The Sun is heating up gradually and one day that will negatively affect life on Earth. I know that we are a long ways away from the heat being to much to permit life though. That being said, the novel is more about the social/political/religious ramifications of living in such a time. I still am very interested in making it as relatable and understandable as possible.</p>

<p>Is there any causal mechanism (hypothetically or imaginatively possible) that could cause the sun to heat up faster than it is at present? This could be internal (something collapses and the increase in core pressure speeds up the reaction rate of hydrogen fusion) or external (something impacts the sun with enough extra mass to increase net g, thus increasing pressure in the core).</p>

<p>If not a causal mechanism, maybe something you can think of that current science/ scientists could have missed/ aren't taking into account in their models that, if true, would mean the sun is going to be much hotter, much sooner than we thought.</p>

<p>Thank you so much for your help! I am pretty passionate about writing and I am only an amateur in the subject of astronomy. I'm hoping some brilliant minds can help me flesh out this idea to make it more concrete. </p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-02-08T07:12:59.027Z
I'm voting to close this question as off-topic because this question seems more suited to [Worldbuilding SE](https://worldbuilding.stackexchange.com/).
StephenG - Help Ukraine
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-02-08T07:44:32.523Z
The Sun will become too hot for life on Earth *long* before it turns into a red giant. And it will survive as a red giant for billions of years before it "dies" as a white dwarf. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_far_future#Future_of_the_Earth,_the_Solar_System_and_the_universe
PM 2Ring
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-02-08T11:29:49.803Z
I'm voting to close this question as off-topic because the Help Centre says off-topic includes "Questions that are purely hypothetical, for example a question such as 'Could a black hole destroy the universe' or 'What if our solar system had two suns' (however, feel free to visit World Building)."
Chappo Hasn't Forgotten
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-02-08T11:31:27.080Z
@Chappo It is not true, read the answer! The problem of the solar neutrinos was a serious, decade-long problem, and it changed the solar models *significantly*.
peterh
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-02-08T12:16:54.927Z
@peterh read the question! It's off-topic to ask "what it will be like [living] on earth 500 or so years before the death of our Sun", and your answer, while a good summary of recent science about neutrinos, doesn't actually explain how neutrinos could represent a "causal mechanism [that] would mean the sun is going to be much hotter, much sooner than we thought." Are you seriously suggesting that a neutrino discovery could change the timeframe for evolution to a white dwarf from 8 billion years to, say, one billion years from now? [Noting that even this wouldn't fit the OP's story plot.]
Chappo Hasn't Forgotten
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-02-08T13:34:09.800Z
OP- Thank you all for the feedback! I agree, this Q is off topic for this stack exchange. I'm new to this community and was looking for a place where I thought the science experts would be. After exploring, I found world building and have moved the Q there. However this answer was very helpful. Exactly what I was looking for. It gave me a time period at which the story could take place and a different outcome could occur based on real uncertainties. Thank you @peterh.
Dan
<the-sun><gas><solar-flare><solar-storm>
Is there a plausible causal mechanism to explain why the Sun would be heating up faster/ sooner than we thought? Question for a novel
Dan
# Is there a plausible causal mechanism to explain why the Sun would be heating up faster/ sooner than we thought? Question for a novel

(Asked by: username_0 on 2019-02-08)

I am writing a novel about what it will be like on earth 500 or so years before the death of our Sun. The Sun is heating up gradually and one day that will negatively affect life on Earth. I know that we are a long ways away from the heat being to much to permit life though. That being said, the novel is more about the social/political/religious ramifications of living in such a time. I still am very interested in making it as relatable and understandable as possible.

Is there any causal mechanism (hypothetically or imaginatively possible) that could cause the sun to heat up faster than it is at present? This could be internal (something collapses and the increase in core pressure speeds up the reaction rate of hydrogen fusion) or external (something impacts the sun with enough extra mass to increase net g, thus increasing pressure in the core).

If not a causal mechanism, maybe something you can think of that current science/ scientists could have missed/ aren't taking into account in their models that, if true, would mean the sun is going to be much hotter, much sooner than we thought.

Thank you so much for your help! I am pretty passionate about writing and I am only an amateur in the subject of astronomy. I'm hoping some brilliant minds can help me flesh out this idea to make it more concrete.

**Tags:** the-sun, gas, solar-flare, solar-storm
> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: I'm voting to close this question as off-topic because this question seems more suited to [Worldbuilding SE](https://worldbuilding.stackexchange.com/).  
> **username_2**: The Sun will become too hot for life on Earth *long* before it turns into a red giant. And it will survive as a red giant for billions of years before it "dies" as a white dwarf. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_far_future#Future_of_the_Earth,_the_Solar_System_and_the_universe  
> **username_3**: I'm voting to close this question as off-topic because the Help Centre says off-topic includes "Questions that are purely hypothetical, for example a question such as 'Could a black hole destroy the universe' or 'What if our solar system had two suns' (however, feel free to visit World Building)."  
> **username_4**: @Chappo It is not true, read the answer! The problem of the solar neutrinos was a serious, decade-long problem, and it changed the solar models *significantly*.  
> **username_3**: @peterh read the question! It's off-topic to ask "what it will be like [living] on earth 500 or so years before the death of our Sun", and your answer, while a good summary of recent science about neutrinos, doesn't actually explain how neutrinos could represent a "causal mechanism [that] would mean the sun is going to be much hotter, much sooner than we thought." Are you seriously suggesting that a neutrino discovery could change the timeframe for evolution to a white dwarf from 8 billion years to, say, one billion years from now? [Noting that even this wouldn't fit the OP's story plot.]  
> **username_0**: OP- Thank you all for the feedback! I agree, this Q is off topic for this stack exchange. I'm new to this community and was looking for a place where I thought the science experts would be. After exploring, I found world building and have moved the Q there. However this answer was very helpful. Exactly what I was looking for. It gave me a time period at which the story could take place and a different outcome could occur based on real uncertainties. Thank you @peterh.  

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_4 on 2019-02-08. Score: -1 | Accepted answer

### [The Solar Neutrino Problem](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_neutrino_problem)

> The solar neutrino problem concerned a large discrepancy between the
> flux of solar neutrinos as predicted from the Sun's luminosity and
> measured directly. The discrepancy was first observed in the mid-1960s
> and finally resolved around 2002.
>
> The flux of neutrinos at Earth is several tens of billions per square
> centimetre per second, mostly from the Sun's core. They are
> nevertheless hard to detect, because they interact very weakly with
> matter, traversing the whole Earth as light does thin air. Of the
> three types (flavors) of neutrinos known in the Standard Model of
> particle physics, the Sun produces only electron neutrinos. When
> neutrino detectors became sensitive enough to measure the flow of
> electron neutrinos from the Sun, the number detected was much lower
> than predicted. In various experiments, the number deficit was between
> one half and two thirds.

The problem is practically solved today. It wasn't so until $\approx$ 2002. However, a little chance that we know something not enough well, still exists, but it is little.

The currently accepted solution of the problem is this: yes, we know the Sun enough well, but the neutrinos can change flavor on the way they reach us. Thus, for example, if an electron-neutrino becomes muon-neutrino, then the detectors capable to see only electron-neutrinos, won't detect it.

It is today a hot research topic in the particle physics, thus some surprising result in the future isn't yet closed out. The main problem is that the neutrino practically don't interact with anything (a light year of lead would stop half of them), so there are only *very* little possibilities to measure their properties.

### [The KATRIN neutrino experiment](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KATRIN)

> KATRIN is a German acronym (Karlsruhe Tritium Neutrino Experiment) for
> an undertaking to measure the mass of the electron antineutrino with
> sub-eV precision by examining the spectrum of electrons emitted from
> the beta decay of tritium. The core of the apparatus is a 200-ton
> spectrometer. In 2015, the commissioning measurements on this
> spectrometer were completed, successfully verifying its basic vacuum,
> transmission and background properties. The experiment began
> running tests in October 2016. Regular measurements started
> 2018-06-11, with a projected duration of 5 years.

As far I know, too much surprising results aren't expected from this - most likely, the electron neutrino mass of some tenths of eV will be found, or possible the result will be that the experiment is not enough precise to find anything. (In this case, we will still get an "upper limit").

However, there is a little chance that some surprising result will happen.

For example, such a neutrino mass could be found, which can be explained only by some hyphotetical effect (like [sterile neutrinos](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sterile_neutrino), which might also contribute to the solution of the [dark matter](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_matter) problem).

### The idea

Go back to the 80ties, where a possible solution to the solar neutrino problem was a different working and internal structure of the Sun, which looks the same for us, but generates lesser neutrinos. By analogy, a similarly different Sun should be expected, which goes into a red giant phase soon. (Or, at least its luminosity will increase enough in the near future to make the Earth inhabitable).

Note, we also know a lot of other stars today, there are very good models running on big computers, and these are enough sophisticated to close this possibility out with a good probability. Thus, the Sun should be somehow exceptional on these results.

> **Comments:**
> **username_5**: How this is supposed to answer the Q?  
> **username_4**: @Alchimista The question asks for the most reasonable causal mechanism (on our current knowledge), which could cause a serious heating up of the Sun in the near future. After some thinking, I think this is that. I am surprised on your comment, I think it is well comprehensible in the answer. How is it unclear? I am fully open to clarify/extend/improve it.  
> **username_3**: Why would you try to improve an answer on an off-topic question?  
> **username_4**: @Chappo I disagree that it is off-topic. The OP asks it for a non-scientific goal, it is true, but the astronomical part of the question is essentially this: *"What is the most reasonable causal mechanism for a faster/sooner heatup of the Sun?"* And, it has an objective, science-based answer. I think this answer is what I wrote.  
> **username_5**: I really don't understand. Perhaps you wanted to say that we don't know Sun very well so that it could get hotter or go red giant even before than somehow expected? Something like "we currently aren't sure of the timescale future evolution of Sun and as such a fictional novel can pose it warmer or bigger without much problems"?  
> **username_6**: This answer is signifcantly less plausible than, say, "Romulans planted a gold-pressed dilithium bomb in the center of our sun."  

---

