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 ...

The winter solstice, famously the shortest day of the year, is nearly three weeks behind us. So why is the sun rising later than it did on Dec. 21? The answer lies in Earth's rotation and orbit.