what is the sun essay

Our Sun: Facts

Our Sun is a 4.5 billion-year-old yellow dwarf star – a hot glowing ball of hydrogen and helium – at the center of our solar system. It’s about 93 million miles (150 million kilometers) from Earth and it’s our solar system’s only star. Without the Sun’s energy, life as we know it could not exist on our home planet.

The Sun is about 100 times wider than Earth and about 10 times wider than Jupiter, the biggest planet.

Illustration of the Sun show the scale of the planets in comparison. The planets barely cover the Sun.

The Sun is the only star in our solar system. It is the center of our solar system, and its gravity holds the solar system together. Everything in our solar system revolves around it – the planets, asteroids, comets, and tiny bits of space debris.

Measuring a “day” on the Sun is complicated. The Sun is made of super-hot, electrically charged gas called plasma. This plasma rotates at different speeds on different parts of the Sun. At its equator, the Sun completes one rotation in 25 Earth days. At its poles, the Sun rotates once on its axis every 36 Earth days.

The part of the Sun we see from Earth – the part we call the surface – is the photosphere. The Sun doesn’t actually have a solid surface because it’s a ball of plasma.

Above the Sun’s surface are its thin chromosphere and the huge corona (crown). This is where we see features such as solar prominences, flares, and coronal mass ejections. The latter two are giant explosions of energy and particles that can reach Earth.

The Sun doesn’t have moons, but it’s orbited by eight planets, at least five dwarf planets, tens of thousands of asteroids, and perhaps three trillion comets and icy bodies.

Against a black background, five golden-gray moons of varying sizes are scattered along a horizontal band through the image. Sunlight illuminates them from the left, and their right sides are in shadow. The largest, at far right, takes up the middle third of the photo, fully sunlit, with its dark half cut off by the right edge of the frame. The rings of Saturn, seen nearly edge-on, pierce the image like a knife blade from center-right, emerging through the largest moon, and with the smallest moon resting atop the blade like a breadcrumb.

Several spacecraft are currently investigating the Sun including Parker Solar Probe, STEREO, Solar Orbiter, SOHO, Solar Dynamics Observatory, Hinode, IRIS, and Wind.

The Sun would have been surrounded by a disk of gas and dust early in its history when the solar system was first forming 4.6 billion years ago. Some of that dust is still around today, in several dust rings that circle the Sun. They trace the orbits of planets, whose gravity tugs dust into place around the Sun.

Artists concept: 3 concentric rings of dust and gas. At center: a glowing sphere. Reddish-colored rings inclined to each other due to gravity of unseen planets warping the disk, casting shadows across the outermost ring at 11 o'clock and 12 o'clock.

Nothing could live on the Sun, but its energy is vital for most life on Earth.

The temperature in the Sun's core is about 27 million degrees Fahrenheit (15 million degrees Celsius) – hot enough to sustain nuclear fusion. This creates outward pressure that supports the star's gigantic mass, keeping it from collapsing.

A detailed diagram of the layers of the Sun, from inside to out: core, radiative zone, convective zone, photosphere, chromosphere, corona. Additional features of the Sun are labeled, including prominences, flares, and sunspots. Layers are delineated by different colors.

From our vantage point on Earth, the Sun may appear like an unchanging source of light and heat in the sky. But the Sun is a dynamic star, constantly changing and sending energy out into space. The science of studying the Sun and its influence throughout the solar system is called heliophysics.

The Sun is the largest object in our solar system. Its diameter is about 865,000 miles (1.4 million kilometers). Its gravity holds the solar system together, keeping everything from the biggest planets to the smallest bits of debris in orbit around it.

Even though the Sun is the center of our solar system and essential to our survival, it’s only an average star in terms of its size. Stars up to 100 times larger have been found. And many solar systems have more than one star. By studying our Sun, scientists can better understand the workings of distant stars.

The hottest part of the Sun is its core, where temperatures top 27 million °F (15 million °C). The part of the Sun we call its surface – the photosphere – is a relatively cool 10,000 °F (5,500 °C). In one of the Sun’s biggest mysteries, the Sun’s outer atmosphere, the corona, gets hotter the farther it stretches from the surface. The corona reaches up to 3.5 million °F (2 million °C) – much, much hotter than the photosphere.

The Sun has been called by many names. The Latin word for Sun is “sol,” which is the main adjective for all things Sun-related: solar. Helios, the Sun god in ancient Greek mythology, lends his name to many Sun-related terms as well, such as heliosphere and helioseismology.

Potential for Life

The Sun could not harbor life as we know it because of its extreme temperatures and radiation. Yet life on Earth is only possible because of the Sun’s light and energy.

Size and Distance

Our Sun is a medium-sized star with a radius of about 435,000 miles (700,000 kilometers). Many stars are much larger – but the Sun is far more massive than our home planet: it would take more than 330,000 Earths to match the mass of the Sun, and it would take 1.3 million Earths to fill the Sun's volume.

The Sun is about 93 million miles (150 million kilometers) from Earth. Its nearest stellar neighbor is the Alpha Centauri triple star system: red dwarf star Proxima Centauri is 4.24 light-years away, and Alpha Centauri A and B – two sunlike stars orbiting each other – are 4.37 light-years away. A light-year is the distance light travels in one year, which equals about 6 trillion miles (9.5 trillion kilometers).

Orbit and Rotation

The Sun is located in the Milky Way galaxy in a spiral arm called the Orion Spur that extends outward from the Sagittarius arm.

The Sun orbits the center of the Milky Way, bringing with it the planets, asteroids, comets, and other objects in our solar system. Our solar system is moving with an average velocity of 450,000 miles per hour (720,000 kilometers per hour). But even at this speed, it takes about 230 million years for the Sun to make one complete trip around the Milky Way.

The Sun rotates on its axis as it revolves around the galaxy. Its spin has a tilt of 7.25 degrees with respect to the plane of the planets’ orbits. Since the Sun is not solid, different parts rotate at different rates. At the equator, the Sun spins around once about every 25 Earth days, but at its poles, the Sun rotates once on its axis every 36 Earth days.

As a star, the Sun doesn’t have any moons, but the planets and their moons orbit the Sun.

The Sun would have been surrounded by a disk of gas and dust early in its history when the solar system was first forming, about 4.6 billion years ago. Some of that dust is still around today, in several dust rings that circle the Sun. They trace the orbits of planets, whose gravity tugs dust into place around the Sun.

The Sun formed about 4.6 billion years ago in a giant, spinning cloud of gas and dust called the solar nebula. As the nebula collapsed under its own gravity, it spun faster and flattened into a disk. Most of the nebula's material was pulled toward the center to form our Sun, which accounts for 99.8% of our solar system’s mass. Much of the remaining material formed the planets and other objects that now orbit the Sun. (The rest of the leftover gas and dust was blown away by the young Sun's early solar wind.)

Like all stars, our Sun will eventually run out of energy. When it starts to die, the Sun will expand into a red giant star, becoming so large that it will engulf Mercury and Venus, and possibly Earth as well. Scientists predict the Sun is a little less than halfway through its lifetime and will last another 5 billion years or so before it becomes a white dwarf.

The Sun is a huge ball of hydrogen and helium held together by its own gravity.

The Sun has several regions. The interior regions include the core, the radiative zone, and the convection zone. Moving outward – the visible surface or photosphere is next, then the chromosphere, followed by the transition zone, and then the corona – the Sun’s expansive outer atmosphere.

Once material leaves the corona at supersonic speeds, it becomes the solar wind, which forms a huge magnetic "bubble" around the Sun, called the heliosphere. The heliosphere extends beyond the orbit of the planets in our solar system. Thus, Earth exists inside the Sun’s atmosphere. Outside the heliosphere is interstellar space.

The core is the hottest part of the Sun. Nuclear reactions here – where hydrogen is fused to form helium – power the Sun’s heat and light. Temperatures top 27 million °F (15 million °C) and it’s about 86,000 miles (138,000 kilometers) thick. The density of the Sun’s core is about 150 grams per cubic centimeter (g/cm³). That is approximately 8 times the density of gold (19.3 g/cm³) or 13 times the density of lead (11.3 g/cm³).

Energy from the core is carried outward by radiation. This radiation bounces around the radiative zone, taking about 170,000 years to get from the core to the top of the convection zone. Moving outward, in the convection zone, the temperature drops below 3.5 million °F (2 million °C). Here, large bubbles of hot plasma (a soup of ionized atoms) move upward toward the photosphere, which is the layer we think of as the Sun's surface.

The Sun doesn’t have a solid surface like Earth and the other rocky planets and moons. The part of the Sun commonly called its surface is the photosphere. The word photosphere means "light sphere" – which is apt because this is the layer that emits the most visible light. It’s what we see from Earth with our eyes. (Hopefully, it goes without saying – but never look directly at the Sun without protecting your eyes.)

Although we call it the surface, the photosphere is actually the first layer of the solar atmosphere. It's about 250 miles thick, with temperatures reaching about 10,000 degrees Fahrenheit (5,500 degrees Celsius). That's much cooler than the blazing core, but it's still hot enough to make carbon – like diamonds and graphite – not just melt, but boil. Most of the Sun's radiation escapes outward from the photosphere into space.

Above the photosphere is the chromosphere, the transition zone, and the corona. Not all scientists refer to the transition zone as its own region – it is simply the thin layer where the chromosphere rapidly heats and becomes the corona. The photosphere, chromosphere, and corona are all part of the Sun’s atmosphere. (The corona is sometimes casually referred to as “the Sun’s atmosphere,” but it is actually the Sun’s upper atmosphere.)

The Sun’s atmosphere is where we see features such as sunspots, coronal holes, and solar flares.

Key Sun Features

An orange, spherical Sun. Toward the middle is a large cluster of black splotches.

Visible light from these top regions of the Sun is usually too weak to be seen against the brighter photosphere, but during total solar eclipses, when the Moon covers the photosphere, the chromosphere looks like a fine, red rim around the Sun, while the corona forms a beautiful white crown ("corona" means crown in Latin and Spanish) with plasma streamers narrowing outward, forming shapes that look like flower petals.

In one of the Sun’s biggest mysteries, the corona is much hotter than the layers immediately below it. (Imagine walking away from a bonfire only to get warmer.) The source of coronal heating is a major unsolved puzzle in the study of the Sun.

Magnetosphere

The Sun generates magnetic fields that extend out into space to form the interplanetary magnetic field – the magnetic field that pervades our solar system. The field is carried through the solar system by the solar wind – a stream of electrically charged gas blowing outward from the Sun in all directions. The vast bubble of space dominated by the Sun’s magnetic field is called the heliosphere. Since the Sun rotates, the magnetic field spins out into a large rotating spiral, known as the Parker spiral. This spiral has a shape something like the pattern of water from a rotating garden sprinkler.

The Sun doesn't behave the same way all the time. It goes through phases of high and low activity, which make up the solar cycle. Approximately every 11 years, the Sun’s geographic poles change their magnetic polarity – that is, the north and south magnetic poles swap. During this cycle, the Sun's photosphere, chromosphere, and corona change from quiet and calm to violently active.

The height of the Sun’s activity cycle, known as solar maximum, is a time of greatly increased solar storm activity. Sunspots, eruptions called solar flares, and coronal mass ejections are common at solar maximum. The latest solar cycle – Solar Cycle 25 – started in December 2019 when solar minimum occurred, according to the Solar Cycle 25 Prediction Panel, an international group of experts co-sponsored by NASA and NOAA. Scientists now expect the Sun’s activity to ramp up toward the next predicted maximum in July 2025.

Solar activity can release huge amounts of energy and particles, some of which impact us here on Earth. Much like weather on Earth, conditions in space – known as space weather – are always changing with the Sun’s activity. "Space weather" can interfere with satellites , GPS , and radio communications . It also can cripple power grids , and corrode pipelines that carry oil and gas.

The strongest geomagnetic storm on record is the Carrington Event , named for British astronomer Richard Carrington who observed the Sept. 1, 1859, solar flare that triggered the event. Telegraph systems worldwide went haywire. Spark discharges shocked telegraph operators and set their telegraph paper on fire. Just before dawn the next day, skies all over Earth erupted in red, green, and purple auroras – the result of energy and particles from the Sun interacting with Earth’s atmosphere. Reportedly, the auroras were so brilliant that newspapers could be read as easily as in daylight. The auroras, or Northern Lights, were visible as far south as Cuba, the Bahamas, Jamaica, El Salvador, and Hawaii.

Another solar flare on March 13, 1989, caused geomagnetic storms that disrupted electric power transmission from the Hydro Québec generating station in Canada, plunging 6 million people into darkness for 9 hours. The 1989 flare also caused power surges that melted power transformers in New Jersey.

In December 2005, X-rays from a solar storm disrupted satellite-to-ground communications and Global Positioning System (GPS) navigation signals for about 10 minutes.

NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center monitors active regions on the Sun and issues watches, warnings, and alerts for hazardous space weather events .

Quick Facts

Length of day: 25 Earth days at the equator and 36 Earth days at the poles.

Length of year : The Sun doesn't have a "year," per se. But the Sun orbits the center of the Milky Way about every 230 million Earth years, bringing the planets, asteroids, comets, and other objects with it.

Star type : G2 V, yellow dwarf main-sequence star

Surface temperature : (Photosphere) 10,000 degrees Fahrenheit (5,500 degrees Celsius)

Corona (solar atmosphere) temperature : Up to 3.5 million °F (2 million °C)

NASA Heliophysics
The Heliopedia
NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center

Discover More Topics From NASA

Tendrils of hot plasma stream from the Sun.

Asteroids, Comets & Meteors

Kuiper Belt

Illustration of spacecraft near a giant space rock far from the Sun.

CBSE Class 10th
CBSE Class 12th
UP Board 10th
UP Board 12th
Bihar Board 10th
Bihar Board 12th
Top Schools in India
Top Schools in Delhi
Top Schools in Mumbai
Top Schools in Chennai
Top Schools in Hyderabad
Top Schools in Kolkata
Top Schools in Pune
Top Schools in Bangalore

Products & Resources

JEE Main Knockout April
Free Sample Papers
Free Ebooks
NCERT Notes
NCERT Syllabus
NCERT Books
RD Sharma Solutions
Navodaya Vidyalaya Admission 2024-25
NCERT Solutions
NCERT Solutions for Class 12
NCERT Solutions for Class 11
NCERT solutions for Class 10
NCERT solutions for Class 9
NCERT solutions for Class 8
NCERT Solutions for Class 7
JEE Main 2024
MHT CET 2024
JEE Advanced 2024
BITSAT 2024
View All Engineering Exams
Colleges Accepting B.Tech Applications
Top Engineering Colleges in India
Engineering Colleges in India
Engineering Colleges in Tamil Nadu
Engineering Colleges Accepting JEE Main
Top IITs in India
Top NITs in India
Top IIITs in India
JEE Main College Predictor
JEE Main Rank Predictor
MHT CET College Predictor
AP EAMCET College Predictor
GATE College Predictor
KCET College Predictor
JEE Advanced College Predictor
View All College Predictors
JEE Advanced Cutoff
JEE Main Cutoff
JEE Advanced Answer Key
JEE Advanced Result
Download E-Books and Sample Papers
Compare Colleges
B.Tech College Applications
KCET Result
MAH MBA CET Exam
View All Management Exams

Colleges & Courses

MBA College Admissions
MBA Colleges in India
Top IIMs Colleges in India
Top Online MBA Colleges in India
MBA Colleges Accepting XAT Score
BBA Colleges in India
XAT College Predictor 2024
SNAP College Predictor
NMAT College Predictor
MAT College Predictor 2024
CMAT College Predictor 2024
CAT Percentile Predictor 2023
CAT 2023 College Predictor
CMAT 2024 Answer Key
TS ICET 2024 Hall Ticket
CMAT Result 2024
MAH MBA CET Cutoff 2024
Download Helpful Ebooks
List of Popular Branches
QnA - Get answers to your doubts
IIM Fees Structure
AIIMS Nursing
Top Medical Colleges in India
Top Medical Colleges in India accepting NEET Score
Medical Colleges accepting NEET
List of Medical Colleges in India
List of AIIMS Colleges In India
Medical Colleges in Maharashtra
Medical Colleges in India Accepting NEET PG
NEET College Predictor
NEET PG College Predictor
NEET MDS College Predictor
NEET Rank Predictor
DNB PDCET College Predictor
NEET Result 2024
NEET Asnwer Key 2024
NEET Cut off
NEET Online Preparation
Download Helpful E-books
Colleges Accepting Admissions
Top Law Colleges in India
Law College Accepting CLAT Score
List of Law Colleges in India
Top Law Colleges in Delhi
Top NLUs Colleges in India
Top Law Colleges in Chandigarh
Top Law Collages in Lucknow

Predictors & E-Books

CLAT College Predictor
MHCET Law ( 5 Year L.L.B) College Predictor
AILET College Predictor
Sample Papers
Compare Law Collages
Careers360 Youtube Channel
CLAT Syllabus 2025
CLAT Previous Year Question Paper
NID DAT Exam
Pearl Academy Exam

Predictors & Articles

NIFT College Predictor
UCEED College Predictor
NID DAT College Predictor
NID DAT Syllabus 2025
NID DAT 2025
Design Colleges in India
Top NIFT Colleges in India
Fashion Design Colleges in India
Top Interior Design Colleges in India
Top Graphic Designing Colleges in India
Fashion Design Colleges in Delhi
Fashion Design Colleges in Mumbai
Top Interior Design Colleges in Bangalore
NIFT Result 2024
NIFT Fees Structure
NIFT Syllabus 2025
Free Design E-books
List of Branches
Careers360 Youtube channel
IPU CET BJMC
JMI Mass Communication Entrance Exam
IIMC Entrance Exam
Media & Journalism colleges in Delhi
Media & Journalism colleges in Bangalore
Media & Journalism colleges in Mumbai
List of Media & Journalism Colleges in India
CA Intermediate
CA Foundation
CS Executive
CS Professional
Difference between CA and CS
Difference between CA and CMA
CA Full form
CMA Full form
CS Full form
CA Salary In India

Top Courses & Careers

Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com)
Master of Commerce (M.Com)
Company Secretary
Cost Accountant
Charted Accountant
Credit Manager
Financial Advisor
Top Commerce Colleges in India
Top Government Commerce Colleges in India
Top Private Commerce Colleges in India
Top M.Com Colleges in Mumbai
Top B.Com Colleges in India
IT Colleges in Tamil Nadu
IT Colleges in Uttar Pradesh
MCA Colleges in India
BCA Colleges in India

Diploma Colleges

Top Diploma Colleges in Maharashtra
UPSC IAS 2024
SSC CGL 2024
IBPS RRB 2024
Previous Year Sample Papers
Free Competition E-books
Sarkari Result
QnA- Get your doubts answered
UPSC Previous Year Sample Papers
CTET Previous Year Sample Papers
SBI Clerk Previous Year Sample Papers
NDA Previous Year Sample Papers

Upcoming Events

NDA Application Form 2024
UPSC IAS Application Form 2024
CDS Application Form 2024
CTET Admit card 2024
HP TET Result 2023
SSC GD Constable Admit Card 2024
UPTET Notification 2024
SBI Clerk Result 2024

Other Exams

SSC CHSL 2024
UP PCS 2024
UGC NET 2024
RRB NTPC 2024
IBPS PO 2024
IBPS Clerk 2024
IBPS SO 2024
Top University in USA
Top University in Canada
Top University in Ireland
Top Universities in UK
Top Universities in Australia
Best MBA Colleges in Abroad
Business Management Studies Colleges

Top Countries

Study in USA
Study in UK
Study in Canada
Study in Australia
Study in Ireland
Study in Germany
Study in China
Study in Europe

Student Visas

Student Visa Canada
Student Visa UK
Student Visa USA
Student Visa Australia
Student Visa Germany
Student Visa New Zealand
Student Visa Ireland
CUET PG 2024
IGNOU B.Ed Admission 2024
DU Admission 2024
UP B.Ed JEE 2024
LPU NEST 2024
IIT JAM 2024
IGNOU Online Admission 2024
Universities in India
Top Universities in India 2024
Top Colleges in India
Top Universities in Uttar Pradesh 2024
Top Universities in Bihar
Top Universities in Madhya Pradesh 2024
Top Universities in Tamil Nadu 2024
Central Universities in India
CUET DU Cut off 2024
IGNOU Date Sheet
CUET DU CSAS Portal 2024
CUET Response Sheet 2024
CUET Result 2024
CUET Participating Universities 2024
CUET Previous Year Question Paper
CUET Syllabus 2024 for Science Students
E-Books and Sample Papers
CUET Exam Pattern 2024
CUET Exam Date 2024
CUET Cut Off 2024
CUET Exam Analysis 2024
IGNOU Exam Form 2024
CUET PG Counselling 2024
CUET Answer Key 2024

Engineering Preparation

Knockout JEE Main 2024
Test Series JEE Main 2024
JEE Main 2024 Rank Booster

Medical Preparation

Knockout NEET 2024
Test Series NEET 2024
Rank Booster NEET 2024

Online Courses

JEE Main One Month Course
NEET One Month Course
IBSAT Free Mock Tests
IIT JEE Foundation Course
Knockout BITSAT 2024
Career Guidance Tool

Top Streams

IT & Software Certification Courses
Engineering and Architecture Certification Courses
Programming And Development Certification Courses
Business and Management Certification Courses
Marketing Certification Courses
Health and Fitness Certification Courses
Design Certification Courses

Specializations

Digital Marketing Certification Courses
Cyber Security Certification Courses
Artificial Intelligence Certification Courses
Business Analytics Certification Courses
Data Science Certification Courses
Cloud Computing Certification Courses
Machine Learning Certification Courses
View All Certification Courses
UG Degree Courses
PG Degree Courses
Short Term Courses
Free Courses
Online Degrees and Diplomas
Compare Courses

Top Providers

Coursera Courses
Udemy Courses
Edx Courses
Swayam Courses
upGrad Courses
Simplilearn Courses
Great Learning Courses

Essay On Sun - 100, 200, 500 Words

Sun Essay in English

The Sun is a star which is located at the centre of our solar system. It is a self-illuminated body of the milky way galaxy. The sun is the source of heat and light and the midpoint for the solar system. The planets rotate and revolve in circular orbits around the sun and the motion repeats after a fixed period of time and the motion of planets is rotatory, circular and periodic. The sun radiates light and heat, or solar energy, which makes it possible for life to exist on Earth. Here are a few sample essays on Sun.

100 Words Essay on Sun

200 words essay on sun, 500 words essay on sun.

The Sun and the planets formed together, 4.6 billion years ago, from a cloud of gas and dust called the solar nebula. A shock wave from a nearby supernova explosion probably initiated the collapse of the solar nebula. The Sun formed in the centre, and the planets formed in a thin disk orbiting around it. The sun is the largest object in the solar system and is nearly a perfect sphere. It contains about 99.9 percent of all the mass of the solar system. The temperature on the photosphere (surface of the sun) is 10,000 degrees Fahrenheit . Hydrogen and helium together make up 98% of the Sun’s mass. The Sun’s spectrum shows that it comprises trace amounts of other chemical elements like oxygen, nitrogen, carbon, silicon, iron etc.

The Sun is a massive sphere of hydrogen and helium held together by its own gravity. The various parts of the Sun are core, radiative zone, convective zone, photosphere, chromosphere, and corona.

Core | The core is the centre portion of the sun and is the source of all its energy. Radiation and convection are the two main techniques used to transfer the energy produced in the core. The radiation process consists of photons (energy) emitted by the Sun, and the convection means huge movements of material all throughout its interior portion.

Radiative Zone | It is the region around the core. By interacting with nearby particles, the energy in this region is conveyed as electromagnetic radiation or electromagnetic waves.

Convection Zone | This zone is next to the radiation zone. Energy produced in the core region moves through this zone by the process of convection. Convection is the transfer of heat energy by the movement of matter. Above this zone is the Sun’s atmosphere, made up of several layers called photosphere, chromosphere, and corona.

Photosphere | The outer layer of the sun is the photosphere. At this layer, the energy of the sun is released in the form of light. It is the most visible surface of the sun.

Chromosphere | It is the layer above the photosphere that glows with light reddish colour emitted by hydrogen. It is less dense than the photosphere.

Corona | It is the outermost layer of the sun's atmosphere with high temperature and low density.

The sun is the primary source of our energy. It is known as solar energy. It travels from the sun to the Earth in the form of rays. Some of these are visible light rays. We cannot see some rays, such as x-rays. Some of the benefits of sun and its energy include:

Photosynthesis | Without the sun, photosynthesis could not take place. It is the process by which plants use sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide to create oxygen and energy in the form of sugar. The sun provides the initial energy that starts the cycle of photosynthesis, which converts this sun energy into food for plants. The chlorophyll absorbs energy from sunlight. Green plants use this light energy to change water and carbon dioxide into oxygen and nutrients called sugars. The plants use some of the sugars and store the rest. The oxygen is released into the air.

Biological clock | The light/dark cycle of the sun has a powerful effect on the circadian clock, sleep, and alertness. Your body’s circadian clock responds to light, as a signal to be awake, and dark, as a signal to fall asleep. Exposure to sunlight is thought to increase the brain’s release of a hormone called serotonin. Serotonin is associated with boosting mood and helping a person feel calm and focused. At night, darker lighting triggers the brain to make another hormone called melatonin. This hormone is responsible for helping you sleep.

Hydrological cycle | The water cycle is the continuous movement of water in the earth's atmosphere involving processes like evaporation, transpiration, condensation, precipitation and runoff. Solar radiation is the main source of energy for evaporation which occurs in oceans, plants and soil. Water vapour rises in the atmosphere and condenses into clouds, returning to land as rain and releasing energy. Some rainwater soaks into the ground and the rest forms lakes and rivers. This underground water is necessary for trees and human consumption. River water also provides nutrients for aquatic life forms. The climate of a region is affected by temperature changes caused by warming and cooling of the atmosphere.

Greenhouse effect | The greenhouse effect warms the earth by trapping infrared radiation from the sun, but increased levels of greenhouse gases have caused a rise in temperature and adverse effects like global warming, air pollution, and depletion of the ozone layer.

Health benefits | Vitamin D is important for various bodily functions and can be obtained through sun exposure, diet, and supplements. Deficiency in vitamin D can lead to conditions like rickets in children and osteomalacia and osteoporosis in adults, which cause weakened bones and muscle weakness.

Solar energy | Solar energy is a renewable source of "green" energy produced by capturing light and heat from the sun using photovoltaic cells (solar panels). It is an alternative to conventional and grid energy and can be used to power home appliances, heat water, and rooms.

The sun is an important part of the solar system . It is what has allowed life to flourish on Earth. As a result, it provides us with numerous benefits for which we should be grateful. However, it is also important to remember that excessive sun exposure can have negative consequences.

Applications for Admissions are open.

Aakash iACST Scholarship Test 2024

Get up to 90% scholarship on NEET, JEE & Foundation courses

ALLEN Digital Scholarship Admission Test (ADSAT)

JEE Main Important Physics formulas

As per latest 2024 syllabus. Physics formulas, equations, & laws of class 11 & 12th chapters

PW JEE Coaching

Enrol in PW Vidyapeeth center for JEE coaching

PW NEET Coaching

Enrol in PW Vidyapeeth center for NEET coaching

JEE Main Important Chemistry formulas

As per latest 2024 syllabus. Chemistry formulas, equations, & laws of class 11 & 12th chapters

Download Careers360 App's

Regular exam updates, QnA, Predictors, College Applications & E-books now on your Mobile

Certifications

We Appeared in

Essay on Sun

Students are often asked to write an essay on Sun in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Sun

The sun: our star.

The Sun is a star at the center of our solar system. It’s a huge ball of hot, glowing gases. It gives us light and heat, making life possible on Earth.

Formation and Structure

The Sun formed about 4.6 billion years ago. It’s made up of layers: the core, radiative zone, convective zone, photosphere, chromosphere, and corona.

Importance of the Sun

The Sun’s energy supports all life on Earth. It helps plants grow, which animals eat to survive. It also affects our weather and climate.

The Sun is vital for life. We must respect and protect it.

Also check:

10 Lines on Sun
Paragraph on Sun
Speech on Sun

250 Words Essay on Sun

The sun: a celestial powerhouse.

The Sun, the celestial body that dominates our solar system, is a sphere of hot, glowing gases. Its gravity holds the solar system together, keeping everything from the biggest planets to the smallest particles of debris in its orbit.

Composition and Structure

The Sun is primarily composed of hydrogen (about 73%) and helium (about 25%). The rest is a mixture of heavier elements like oxygen, carbon, neon, and iron. Its structure is divided into the core, the radiative zone, the convective zone, the photosphere, the chromosphere, and the corona.

Energy Production

The energy of the Sun originates from its core, where nuclear fusion occurs. Here, hydrogen atoms combine to form helium, releasing a tremendous amount of energy in the process. This energy travels outward to the Sun’s surface and then radiated into space as heat and light.

The Sun’s Influence on Earth

The Sun’s energy is fundamental to life on Earth. It drives weather patterns and ocean currents. It fuels photosynthesis in green plants, enabling the growth of the food chain. Its light allows us to see, and its heat makes life possible.

The Sun: A Source of Inspiration

The Sun has been a source of inspiration throughout human history. It has been revered by ancient civilizations, studied by scientists, and used as a metaphor in literature and art. As we continue to explore our solar system and beyond, the Sun remains a beacon of curiosity and understanding.

In conclusion, the Sun is not just a celestial body; it is a powerhouse that fuels life on Earth and continues to inspire us to learn more about our universe.

500 Words Essay on Sun

Introduction to the sun.

The Sun, the star at the center of our Solar System, is a celestial body of immense significance. It is the primary source of energy for life on Earth, and its existence has shaped the evolution of our planet and its inhabitants.

The Sun’s Composition and Structure

The Sun is primarily composed of hydrogen (about 75% by mass), with the remainder mostly being helium. Other elements like oxygen, carbon, neon, and iron make up less than 1%. The Sun’s structure is divided into several layers: the core, the radiative zone, the convective zone, the photosphere, the chromosphere, and the corona.

The core, where nuclear fusion occurs, is the Sun’s power source, converting hydrogen into helium and releasing energy in the process. This energy travels outward through the radiative and convective zones to the photosphere, the visible “surface” of the Sun. Above the photosphere lie the chromosphere and the corona, the latter of which extends far into space and is visible during a total solar eclipse.

The Sun’s Role in the Solar System

The Sun’s gravitational pull holds the planets, asteroids, comets, and other celestial bodies in their orbits. Its solar wind, a stream of charged particles, shapes the heliosphere, a vast bubble that protects the Solar System from interstellar radiation.

The Sun also plays a critical role in Earth’s climate system. Its energy drives weather patterns and ocean currents, and variations in solar output can influence Earth’s long-term climate trends.

Solar Activity and Its Effects on Earth

The Sun is not a static object but exhibits a range of dynamic behaviors. Solar activity, including solar flares and coronal mass ejections, can disrupt technology on Earth and pose hazards to astronauts in space. Understanding and predicting solar activity is a key focus of space weather research.

The Sun in Human Culture and Science

The Sun has held a central place in human cultures throughout history, often worshipped as a deity. Its motions across the sky form the basis of our concepts of time, from the length of a day to the cycle of the seasons.

In science, the study of the Sun has led to fundamental insights into physics and astronomy. The observation of solar eclipses confirmed Einstein’s theory of general relativity, and the detection of neutrinos from the Sun’s core has revealed new aspects of particle physics.

The Sun, our closest star, is a complex and dynamic system with far-reaching influence. Its energy sustains life on Earth, its gravitational pull shapes the Solar System, and its behavior affects our technology and climate. As we continue to study the Sun, we deepen our understanding of the universe and our place within it.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

Essay on Strawberry
Essay on Storm
Essay on Statue of Unity

Apart from these, you can look at all the essays by clicking here .

Happy studying!

Essay On The Sun For Children – 10 Lines, Short And Long Essay

Key Points To Remember When Writing Essay On Sun For Lower Primary Classes

10 lines on the sun for kids, short essay on the sun for kids, long essay on the sun for children, what will your 1st, 2nd and 3rd grader learn from the essay on the sun, interesting facts about the sun for kids.

The sun is an essential part of the solar system and very important to Earth’s survival. Children get introduced to topics like the sun, moon and Earth right from kindergarten through activities like drawing, painting and creating models. For children of classes 1, 2 and 3, a common assignment for teaching them about the sun is essay writing. Writing an essay on the Sun in English will allow kids to showcase their knowledge on this wonderful subject and strengthen their writing skills. The sun is a star composed of various spheres and gases and is placed at the centre of the solar system. Children in the lower primary classes are introduced to the topic as a star around which the Earth revolves.

When teaching a child how to write an essay about the sun, it is critical to emphasise the framework that will aid in creating a compelling essay. A few key points to remember whilst writing an essay on the sun are below:

An introduction about the sun in a concise format.
Details about the sun, its place in the solar system, and its characteristics.
Importance and benefits of the sun.
A strong conclusion.

An essay on sun for classes 1 and 2 must be factual and engaging. Class 1 and 2 students are required to write an essay in points, making it difficult to know what to include and avoid. A template below will serve as a guide:

Sun is a star and is spherical in shape.
It is visible from the Earth as a ball in yellow colour.
The sun provides natural Vitamin D to human beings.
The natural light and heat of the sun are essential to life on Earth.
Trees and plants can make food because of sunlight.
In some parts of the world, the sun and its rays are worshipped like a God.
The Earth rotates around the sun and takes 365 days, which is a year, to revolve around it entirely.
One should not look at the sun directly as it can harm eyesight.
Sunrise and sunset are beautiful sights to watch from the Earth.
Life on Earth cannot exist without the sun.

Teachers ask children in lower primary classes to write short paragraphs on the given topics. Writing a paragraph of 100-200 lines is difficult for children as they need to organise and structure their thoughts in a readable format. A sample below will give them a headstart.

The sun is the nearest star to our planet; still, the Earth is 4.246 light-years away from the sun. Hydrogen and helium are the main elements of the sun’s composition. The sun is an important energy source for the planet earth. Life on Earth would be impossible without the sun. It provides warmth and stands for purity and valour worldwide. Sun is revered in many cultures and worshipped for prosperity and peace. The sun’s rays are known to be a vital source of Vitamin D, needed for our growth. However, owing to pollution in the atmosphere, the ozone layer of the atmosphere is depleting and allowing the Sun’s UV rays to cause harm to our health. It is important to protect the planet as the sun could also be dangerous when we cannot keep the balance in the atmosphere.

Students of classes 3 and 4 should have elaborative knowledge of various topics. An essay for class 3 on the sun needs to be articulated well. Below is a sample of how it can be structured.

The sun’s importance can’t be ignored in our lives. It is responsible for holding all planets in their respective orbits also. Mercury planet is closest to the sun.

What Is The Sun?

The sun is a star and is located in the outer part of the Milky Way Galaxy. The sun is approximately 4.6 billion years old. An essential part of the solar system, the sun is the nearest star to the Earth. The sun’s gravitational force keeps the solar system intact and in place. It is responsible for life and energy on the Earth.

What Is The Sun Made Of?

The sun is a giant spherical ball that shines as it contains hot gases.
It is made up of around 70% hydrogen and 28% helium, and it also contains nitrogen, oxygen, and carbon.
Sulphur, magnesium, silicon, and neon are other elements present in the sun.
There are various layers in the sun- the inner layers are the Core, Radiative Zone, and Convection Zone. Chromosphere, Photosphere and Corona are the outer layers.
You can measure the brightness of the sun in magnitudes. The magnitude of the sun is -26.74, which makes it challenging to look at it with naked eyes.

The Importance Of The Sun

Life on Earth would be practically non-existent without the sun. Humans get Vitamin D from the sun, and plants and trees depend on the sun to make their food. Plants make food via a process called photosynthesis which is dependent on sunlight. The sun is also an alternate source of energy called solar energy. Plants use sunlight for food and release oxygen as a by-product. Plants are grown with the help of the sun and soil. With the greenhouse method, plants can be grown in the winter too. Sun provides crucial Vitamin D to humans. This vitamin is essential for humans as it helps absorb calcium in the body.

The sun is also considered a heavenly body like a god, with many cultures worshipping it. The Surya Namaskar, performed as an obsequy for the sun, is an elixir for good health. Without the sun, life on planet earth will be non-existent.

An essay on the sun for kindergarten, classes 1, 2 and 3 kids will be a great way of teaching them the importance and benefits of the sun. Children need to know about the sun, as it is an integral part of the solar system and one’s life. With a strong foundation, children’s curiosity will be piqued, and they may take a keen interest in studying key facts and details later on.

The following facts about the sun will help children write an interesting essay. Knowledge of these will help them structure their thoughts:

The sun is over 4.6 billion years old that started as a mass of clouds and gas.
The sun’s temperature is more than 5,000 degrees.
Some areas in the sun are cooler than others. These are called sunspots.
The sun’s light reaches Earth in around eight minutes.
Scientists study the sun through a solar telescope as the sun can not be seen with naked eyes.
The connection between the sun and Earth governs season, weather, ocean currents and climate.
The sun is white but appears yellow because of the atmosphere.
The sun is almost a perfect sphere.

1. What Are The Major Benefits Of Sunlight?

The sun is an important source of energy for all life forms on Earth. Humans need Vitamin D from the sun’s rays, plants use the sunlight for photosynthesis, and the sun is the only source of light and warmth on our planet. It is also used to generate electricity via solar power.

2. What Vitamins do We Get From Sun?

The sun is a rich source of vitamin D, vital for absorbing calcium in the body and maintaining healthy teeth, bones, and mental health.

3. Is Life Possible Without The Sun?

Life is impossible without the sun. The energy, heat and light released from the sun are vital for most living beings. The sun is imperative for everything from Vitamin D to helping plants make food.

Sun is an essential component of the galaxy and can be considered the precursor of several crucial elements. The benefits of the sun make it essential for children to learn more about it, and it helps children learn about the most important aspects of life.

Essay on Soldiers for Class 1, 2 & 3 Children Essay on Save The Environment for Class 1, 2 & 3 Kids How to Write An Essay on Kabaddi for Class 1, 2 & 3 Children

Essays for Class 1
Essays for Class 2
Essays for Class 3

Low-Stimulation Shows To Keep Your Kid Busy (For When You Need A Break!)

Summer activities and books on saving water, how to help your child become an avid reader , leave a reply cancel reply.

Most Popular

Jellyfish salt painting, 5 shows the entire family can enjoy together, how to make a diy rainbow cork painting , recent comments.

FirstCry Intelli Education is an Early Learning brand, with products and services designed by educators with decades of experience, to equip children with skills that will help them succeed in the world of tomorrow.

The FirstCry Intellikit `Learn With Stories` kits for ages 2-6 brings home classic children`s stories, as well as fun activities, specially created by our Early Learning Educators.

For children 6 years and up, explore a world of STEAM learning, while engaging in project-based play to keep growing minds busy!

Build a love for reading through engaging book sets and get the latest in brain-boosting toys, recommended by the educators at FirstCry Intellitots.

Our Comprehensive 2-year Baby Brain Development Program brings to you doctor-approved toys for your baby`s developing brain.

Our Preschool Chain offers the best in education across India, for children ages 2 and up.

Welcome to the world of Intelli!

We have some FREE Activity E-books waiting for you. Fill in your details below so we can send you tailor- made activities for you and your little one.

Parent/Guardian's Name

Child's DOB

What would you like to receive other than your Free E-book? I would like information, discounts and offers on toys, books and products I want to find a FirstCry Intellitots Preschool near me I want access to resources for my child's development and/or education

Welcome to the world of intelli!

FREE guides and worksheets coming your way on whatsapp. Subscribe Below !!

THANK YOU!!!

Here are your free guides and worksheets.

Solar System Essay for Students and Children

500+ words essay on solar system.

Our solar system consists of eight planets that revolve around the Sun, which is central to our solar system . These planets have broadly been classified into two categories that are inner planets and outer planets. Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars are called inner planets. The inner planets are closer to the Sun and they are smaller in size as compared to the outer planets. These are also referred to as the Terrestrial planets. And the other four Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune are termed as the outer planets. These four are massive in size and are often referred to as Giant planets.

The smallest planet in our solar system is Mercury, which is also closest to the Sun. The geological features of Mercury consist of lobed ridges and impact craters. Being closest to the Sun the Mercury’s temperature sores extremely high during the day time. Mercury can go as high as 450 degree Celsius but surprisingly the nights here are freezing cold. Mercury has a diameter of 4,878 km and Mercury does not have any natural satellite like Earth.

Venus is also said to be the hottest planet of our solar system. It has a toxic atmosphere that always traps heat. Venus is also the brightest planet and it is visible to the naked eye. Venus has a thick silicate layer around an iron core which is also similar to that of Earth. Astronomers have seen traces of internal geological activity on Venus planet. Venus has a diameter of 12,104 km and it is just like Mars. Venus also does not have any natural satellite like Earth.

Earth is the largest inner planet. It is covered two-third with water. Earth is the only planet in our solar system where life is possible. Earth’s atmosphere which is rich in nitrogen and oxygen makes it fit for the survival of various species of flora and fauna. However human activities are negatively impacting its atmosphere. Earth has a diameter of 12,760 km and Earth has one natural satellite that is the moon.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun and it is often referred to as the Red Planet. This planet has a reddish appeal because of the iron oxide present on this planet. Mars planet is a cold planet and it has geological features similar to that of Earth. This is the only reason why it has captured the interest of astronomers like no other planet. This planet has traces of frozen ice caps and it has been found on the planet. Mars has a diameter of 6,787 km and it has two natural satellites.

It is the largest planet in our solar system. Jupiter has a strong magnetic field . Jupiter largely consists of helium and hydrogen. It has a Great Red Spot and cloud bands. The giant storm is believed to have raged here for hundreds of years. Jupiter has a diameter of 139,822 km and it has as many as 79 natural satellites which are much more than of Earth and Mars.

Saturn is the sixth planet from the Sun. It is also known for its ring system and these rings are made of tiny particles of ice and rock. Saturn’s atmosphere is quite like that of Jupiter because it is also largely composed of hydrogen and helium. Saturn has a diameter of 120,500 km and It has 62 natural satellites that are mainly composed of ice. As compare with Jupiter it has less satellite.

Uranus is the seventh planet from the Sun. It is the lightest of all the giant and outer planets. Presence of Methane in the atmosphere this Uranus planet has a blue tint. Uranus core is colder than the other giant planets and the planet orbits on its side. Uranus has a diameter of 51,120 km and it has 27 natural satellites.

Neptune is the last planet in our solar system. It is also the coldest of all the planets. Neptune is around the same size as the Uranus. And it is much more massive and dense. Neptune’s atmosphere is composed of helium, hydrogen, methane, and ammonia and it experiences extremely strong winds. It is the only planet in our solar system which is found by mathematical prediction. Neptune has a diameter of 49,530 km and it has 14 natural satellites which are more than of Earth and Mars.

Scientists and astronomers have been studying our solar system for centuries and then after they will findings are quite interesting. Various planets that form a part of our solar system have their own unique geological features and all are different from each other in several ways.

Customize your course in 30 seconds

Which class are you in.

Travelling Essay
Picnic Essay
Our Country Essay
My Parents Essay
Essay on Favourite Personality
Essay on Memorable Day of My Life
Essay on Knowledge is Power
Essay on Gurpurab
Essay on My Favourite Season
Essay on Types of Sports

Download the App

Solar Energy

Solar energy is created by nuclear fusion that takes place in the sun. It is necessary for life on Earth, and can be harvested for human uses such as electricity.

Earth Science, Engineering, Physics

Loading ...

Solar energy is any type of energy generated by the sun . Solar energy is created by nuclear fusion that takes place in the sun. Fusion occurs when protons of hydrogen atoms violently collide in the sun’s core and fuse to create a helium atom. This process, known as a PP (proton-proton) chain reaction, emits an enormous amount of energy. In its core, the sun fuses about 620 million metric tons of hydrogen every second. The PP chain reaction occurs in other stars that are about the size of our sun, and provides them with continuous energy and heat. The temperature for these stars is around 4 million degrees on the Kelvin scale (about 4 million degrees Celsius, 7 million degrees Fahrenheit). In stars that are about 1.3 times bigger than the sun, the CNO cycle drives the creation of energy. The CNO cycle also converts hydrogen to helium, but relies on carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen (C, N, and O) to do so. Currently , less than two percent of the sun’s energy is created by the CNO cycle. Nuclear fusion by the PP chain reaction or CNO cycle releases tremendous amounts of energy in the form of waves and particles. Solar energy is constantly flowing away from the sun and throughout the solar system . Solar energy warms Earth, causes wind and weather , and sustains plant and animal life. The energy, heat, and light from the sun flow away in the form of electromagnetic radiation (EMR). The electromagnetic spectrum exists as waves of different frequencies and wavelengths. The frequency of a wave represents how many times the wave repeats itself in a certain unit of time. Waves with very short wavelengths repeat themselves several times in a given unit of time, so they are high-frequency. In contrast, low-frequency waves have much longer wavelengths. The vast majority of electromagnetic waves are invisible to us. The most high-frequency waves emitted by the sun are gamma rays, X-rays, and ultraviolet radiation (UV rays). The most harmful UV rays are almost completely absorbed by Earth’s atmosphere . Less potent UV rays travel through the atmosphere, and can cause sunburn. The sun also emits infrared radiation , whose waves are much lower-frequency. Most heat from the sun arrives as infrared energy. Sandwiched between infrared and UV is the visible spectrum, which contains all the colors we see on Earth. The color red has the longest wavelengths (closest to infrared), and violet (closest to UV) the shortest. Natural Solar Energy Greenhouse Effect The infrared, visible, and UV waves that reach Earth take part in a process of warming the planet and making life possible—the so-called “greenhouse effect.” About 30 percent of the solar energy that reaches Earth is reflected back into space. The rest is absorbed into Earth’s atmosphere. The radiation warms Earth’s surface, and the surface radiates some of the energy back out in the form of infrared waves. As they rise through the atmosphere, they are intercepted by greenhouse gases , such as water vapor and carbon dioxide.

Greenhouse gases trap the heat that reflects back up into the atmosphere. In this way, they act like the glass walls of a greenhouse. This greenhouse effect keeps Earth warm enough to sustain life. Photosynthesis Almost all life on Earth relies on solar energy for food, either directly or indirectly. Producers rely directly on solar energy. They absorb sunlight and convert it into nutrients through a process called photosynthesis. Producers, also called autotrophs , include plants, algae, bacteria, and fungi. Autotrophs are the foundation of the food web . Consumers rely on producers for nutrients. Herbivores, carnivores, omnivores, and detritivores rely on solar energy indirectly. Herbivores eat plants and other producers. Carnivores and omnivores eat both producers and herbivores. Detritivores decompose plant and animal matter by consuming it. Fossil Fuels Photosynthesis is also responsible for all of the fossil fuels on Earth. Scientists estimate that about three billion years ago, the first autotrophs evolved in aquatic settings. Sunlight allowed plant life to thrive and evolve. After the autotrophs died, they decomposed and shifted deeper into the Earth, sometimes thousands of meters. This process continued for millions of years. Under intense pressure and high temperatures, these remains became what we know as fossil fuels. Microorganisms became petroleum, natural gas, and coal. People have developed processes for extracting these fossil fuels and using them for energy. However, fossil fuels are a nonrenewable resource . They take millions of years to form. Harnessing Solar Energy Solar energy is a renewable resource , and many technologies can harvest it directly for use in homes, businesses, schools, and hospitals. Some solar energy technologies include photovoltaic cells and panels, concentrated solar energy , and solar architecture . There are different ways of capturing solar radiation and converting it into usable energy. The methods use either active solar energy or passive solar energy . Active solar technologies use electrical or mechanical devices to actively convert solar energy into another form of energy, most often heat or electricity. Passive solar technologies do not use any external devices. Instead, they take advantage of the local climate to heat structures during the winter, and reflect heat during the summer. Photovoltaics Photovoltaics is a form of active solar technology that was discovered in 1839 by 19-year-old French physicist Alexandre-Edmond Becquerel. Becquerel discovered that when he placed silver-chloride in an acidic solution and exposed it to sunlight, the platinum electrodes attached to it generated an electric current. This process of generating electricity directly from solar radiation is called the photovoltaic effect, or photovoltaics.

Today, photovoltaics is probably the most familiar way to harness solar energy. Photovoltaic arrays usually involve solar panels , a collection of dozens or even hundreds of solar cells. Each solar cell contains a semiconductor , usually made of silicon. When the semiconductor absorbs sunlight, it knocks electrons loose. An electrical field directs these loose electrons into an electric current, flowing in one direction. Metal contacts at the top and bottom of a solar cell direct that current to an external object. The external object can be as small as a solar-powered calculator or as large as a power station. Photovoltaics was first widely used on spacecraft. Many satellites , including the International Space Station (ISS), feature wide, reflective “wings” of solar panels. The ISS has two solar array wings (SAWs), each using about 33,000 solar cells. These photovoltaic cells supply all electricity to the ISS, allowing astronauts to operate the station, safely live in space for months at a time, and conduct scientific and engineering experiments. Photovoltaic power stations have been built all over the world. The largest stations are in the United States, India, and China. These power stations emit hundreds of megawatts of electricity, used to supply homes, businesses, schools, and hospitals. Photovoltaic technology can also be installed on a smaller scale. Solar panels and cells can be fixed to the roofs or exterior walls of buildings, supplying electricity for the structure. They can be placed along roads to light highways. Solar cells are small enough to power even smaller devices, such as calculators, parking meters, trash compactors, and water pumps. Concentrated Solar Energy Another type of active solar technology is concentrated solar energy or concentrated solar power (CSP). CSP technology uses lenses and mirrors to focus (concentrate) sunlight from a large area into a much smaller area. This intense area of radiation heats a fluid, which in turn generates electricity or fuels another process. Solar furnaces are an example of concentrated solar power. There are many different types of solar furnaces, including solar power towers , parabolic troughs, and Fresnel reflectors. They use the same general method to capture and convert energy. Solar power towers use heliostats , flat mirrors that turn to follow the sun’s arc through the sky. The mirrors are arranged around a central “collector tower,” and reflect sunlight into a concentrated ray of light that shines on a focal point on the tower. In previous designs of solar power towers, the concentrated sunlight heated a container of water, which produced steam that powered a turbine . More recently, some solar power towers use liquid sodium, which has a higher heat capacity and retains heat for a longer period of time. This means that the fluid not only reaches temperatures of 773 to 1,273K (500° to 1,000° C or 932° to 1,832° F), but it can continue to boil water and generate power even when the sun is not shining. Parabolic troughs and Fresnel reflectors also use CSP, but their mirrors are shaped differently. Parabolic mirrors are curved, with a shape similar to a saddle. Fresnel reflectors use flat, thin strips of mirror to capture sunlight and direct it onto a tube of liquid. Fresnel reflectors have more surface area than parabolic troughs and can concentrate the sun’s energy to about 30 times its normal intensity. Concentrated solar power plants were first developed in the 1980s. The largest facility in the world is a series of plants in Mojave Desert in the U.S. state of California. This Solar Energy Generating System (SEGS) generates more than 650 gigawatt-hours of electricity every year. Other large and effective plants have been developed in Spain and India.

Concentrated solar power can also be used on a smaller scale. It can generate heat for solar cookers , for instance. People in villages all over the world use solar cookers to boil water for sanitation and to cook food. Solar cookers provide many advantages over wood-burning stoves: They are not a fire hazard, do not produce smoke, do not require fuel, and reduce habitat loss in forests where trees would be harvested for fuel. Solar cookers also allow villagers to pursue time for education, business, health, or family during time that was previously used for gathering firewood. Solar cookers are used in areas as diverse as Chad, Israel, India, and Peru. Solar Architecture Throughout the course of a day, solar energy is part of the process of thermal convection , or the movement of heat from a warmer space to a cooler one. When the sun rises, it begins to warm objects and material on Earth. Throughout the day, these materials absorb heat from solar radiation. At night, when the sun sets and the atmosphere has cooled, the materials release their heat back into the atmosphere. Passive solar energy techniques take advantage of this natural heating and cooling process. Homes and other buildings use passive solar energy to distribute heat efficiently and inexpensively. Calculating a building’s “ thermal mass ” is an example of this. A building’s thermal mass is the bulk of material heated throughout the day. Examples of a building’s thermal mass are wood, metal, concrete, clay, stone, or mud. At night, the thermal mass releases its heat back into the room. Effective ventilation systems—hallways, windows, and air ducts—distribute the warmed air and maintain a moderate, consistent indoor temperature. Passive solar technology is often involved in the design of a building. For example, in the planning stage of construction, the engineer or architect may align the building with the sun’s daily path to receive desirable amounts of sunlight. This method takes into account the latitude , altitude , and typical cloud cover of a specific area. In addition, buildings can be constructed or retrofitted to have thermal insulation, thermal mass, or extra shading. Other examples of passive solar architecture are cool roofs, radiant barriers , and green roofs . Cool roofs are painted white, and reflect the sun’s radiation instead of absorbing it. The white surface reduces the amount of heat that reaches the interior of the building, which in turn reduces the amount of energy that is needed to cool the building. Radiant barriers work similarly to cool roofs. They provide insulation with highly reflective materials, such as aluminum foil. The foil reflects, instead of absorbs, heat, and can reduce cooling costs up to 10 percent. In addition to roofs and attics, radiant barriers may also be installed beneath floors. Green roofs are roofs that are completely covered with vegetation . They require soil and irrigation to support the plants, and a waterproof layer beneath. Green roofs not only reduce the amount of heat that is absorbed or lost, but also provide vegetation. Through photosynthesis, the plants on green roofs absorb carbon dioxide and emit oxygen. They filter pollutants out of rainwater and air, and offset some of the effects of energy use in that space. Green roofs have been a tradition in Scandinavia for centuries, and have recently become popular in Australia, Western Europe, Canada, and the United States. For example, the Ford Motor Company covered 42,000 square meters (450,000 square feet) of its assembly plant roofs in Dearborn, Michigan, with vegetation. In addition to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, the roofs reduce stormwater runoff by absorbing several centimeters of rainfall.

Green roofs and cool roofs can also counteract the “ urban heat island ” effect. In busy cities, the temperature can be consistently higher than the surrounding areas. Many factors contribute to this: Cities are constructed of materials such as asphalt and concrete that absorb heat; tall buildings block wind and its cooling effects; and high amounts of waste heat is generated by industry, traffic, and high populations. Using the available space on the roof to plant trees, or reflecting heat with white roofs, can partially alleviate local temperature increases in urban areas. Solar Energy and People Since sunlight only shines for about half of the day in most parts of the world, solar energy technologies have to include methods of storing the energy during dark hours. Thermal mass systems use paraffin wax or various forms of salt to store the energy in the form of heat. Photovoltaic systems can send excess electricity to the local power grid , or store the energy in rechargeable batteries. There are many pros and cons to using solar energy. Advantages A major advantage to using solar energy is that it is a renewable resource. We will have a steady, limitless supply of sunlight for another five billion years. In one hour, Earth’s atmosphere receives enough sunlight to power the electricity needs of every human being on Earth for a year. Solar energy is clean. After the solar technology equipment is constructed and put in place, solar energy does not need fuel to work. It also does not emit greenhouse gases or toxic materials. Using solar energy can drastically reduce the impact we have on the environment. There are locations where solar energy is practical . Homes and buildings in areas with high amounts of sunlight and low cloud cover have the opportunity to harness the sun’s abundant energy. Solar cookers provide an excellent alternative to cooking with wood-fired stoves—on which two billion people still rely. Solar cookers provide a cleaner and safer way to sanitize water and cook food. Solar energy complements other renewable sources of energy, such as wind or hydroelectric energy . Homes or businesses that install successful solar panels can actually produce excess electricity. These homeowners or businessowners can sell energy back to the electric provider, reducing or even eliminating power bills. Disadvantages The main deterrent to using solar energy is the required equipment. Solar technology equipment is expensive. Purchasing and installing the equipment can cost tens of thousands of dollars for individual homes. Although the government often offers reduced taxes to people and businesses using solar energy, and the technology can eliminate electricity bills, the initial cost is too steep for many to consider. Solar energy equipment is also heavy. In order to retrofit or install solar panels on the roof of a building, the roof must be strong, large, and oriented toward the sun’s path. Both active and passive solar technology depend on factors that are out of our control, such as climate and cloud cover. Local areas must be studied to determine whether or not solar power would be effective in that area. Sunlight must be abundant and consistent for solar energy to be an efficient choice. In most places on Earth, sunlight’s variability makes it difficult to implement as the only source of energy.

Agua Caliente The Agua Caliente Solar Project, in Yuma, Arizona, United States, is the world's largest array of photovoltaic panels. Agua Caliente has more than five million photovoltaic modules, and generates more than 600 gigawatt-hours of electricity.

Green Chicago Millennium Park in Chicago, Illinois, United States, has one of the most expansive green roofs in the world almost 100,000 square meters (more than a million square feet). Vegetation at ground level covers 24.5 acres of an underground parking garage, and includes gardens, picnic areas, and an outdoor concert facility.

Solar Decathlon The Solar Decathlon is a biannual international event presented by the U.S. Department of Energy. Teams compete to design, build, and operate the most attractive, effective, and energy-efficient solar-powered house.

Media Credits

The audio, illustrations, photos, and videos are credited beneath the media asset, except for promotional images, which generally link to another page that contains the media credit. The Rights Holder for media is the person or group credited.

Illustrator

Last updated.

April 3, 2024

User Permissions

For information on user permissions, please read our Terms of Service. If you have questions about how to cite anything on our website in your project or classroom presentation, please contact your teacher. They will best know the preferred format. When you reach out to them, you will need the page title, URL, and the date you accessed the resource.

If a media asset is downloadable, a download button appears in the corner of the media viewer. If no button appears, you cannot download or save the media.

Text on this page is printable and can be used according to our Terms of Service .

Interactives

Any interactives on this page can only be played while you are visiting our website. You cannot download interactives.

Related Resources

The Sun is a 4.5 billion-year-old yellow dwarf star – a hot glowing ball of hydrogen and helium – at the center of our solar system. It’s about 93 million miles (150 million kilometers) from Earth and it’s our solar system’s only star. Without the Sun’s energy, life as we know it could not exist on our home planet.

Potential for Life

The Sun could not harbor life as we know it because of its extreme temperatures and radiation. Yet life on Earth is only possible because of the Sun’s light and energy.

Size and Distance

Orbit and Rotation

The Sun is located in the Milky Way galaxy in a spiral arm called the Orion Spur that extends outward from the Sagittarius arm.

As a star, the Sun doesn’t have any moons, but the planets and their moons orbit the Sun.

The Sun is a huge ball of hydrogen and helium held together by its own gravity.

The Sun’s atmosphere is where we see features such as sunspots, coronal holes, and solar flares.

Magnetosphere

The height of the Sun’s activity cycle , known as solar maximum, is a time of greatly increased solar storm activity. Sunspots, eruptions called solar flares, and coronal mass ejections are common at solar maximum. The latest solar cycle – Solar Cycle 25 – started in December 2019 when solar minimum occurred, according to the Solar Cycle 25 Prediction Panel, an international group of experts co-sponsored by NASA and NOAA. Scientists now expect the Sun’s activity to ramp up toward the next predicted maximum in July 2025.

In December 2005, X-rays from a solar storm disrupted satellite-to-ground communications and Global Positioning System (GPS) navigation signals for about 10 minutes.

NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center monitors active regions on the Sun and issues watches, warnings, and alerts for hazardous space weather events .

NASA Heliophysics
The Heliopedia
Missions to Study the Sun
NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center

Researchers Trace the Origin of the Sun’s Magnetic Field, Shedding Light on Space Weather and Solar Cycles

In a new study, scientists suggest the sun’s magnetic field originates much closer to the star’s surface than previously thought, a finding that could boost predictions of solar activity

Will Sullivan

Daily Correspondent

the yellow glowing sun with thin loops drawn coming off of it, concentrated around bright spots and more centered around the middle of the star, rather than its poles

The sun’s magnetic field could form much closer to the star’s surface than previously thought, according to new research published Wednesday in the journal Nature . The findings could help improve forecasts of solar activity that can affect satellites, power grids and communications systems on Earth—and produce magnificent auroras .

“This work proposes a new hypothesis for how the sun’s magnetic field is generated that better matches solar observations, and, we hope, could be used to make better predictions of solar activity,” Daniel Lecoanet , a co-author of the study and a fluid dynamicist at Northwestern University, tells CNN ’s Katie Hunt.

Ellen Zweibel , an astrophysicist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison who did not contribute to findings, calls the results “intriguing” in an editorial accompanying the article. “They could well furnish an interpretative framework for more elaborate models, and they are sure to inspire future studies.”

The flow of plasma within the sun creates the star’s magnetic field . This means the sun has two magnetic poles, like the Earth—but every 11 years, these poles flip positions. As the star goes through this cycle, it gradually shifts between periods of low and high activity.

Its magnetic field plays a role in events like solar flares , explosions that shoot energy, light and high-speed particles into space, as well as coronal mass ejections , solar magnetic storms that expel gas and magnetic fields. Dark areas on the sun’s surface called sunspots are also a result of the magnetic field and are thought to be tied to solar flares, coronal mass ejections and other space weather.

Right now, the sun is nearing the end of a cycle and approaching peak activity at its “solar maximum.” It’s currently experiencing intense solar storms that result in widespread auroras—like when, earlier this month, the strongest geomagnetic storm since 2003 caused the Northern Lights to be visible across much of the United States, even Florida.

Despite the importance of the sun’s magnetic field to all these events, scientists still don’t fully grasp its structure or how it is generated.

“We still don’t understand the sun well enough to make accurate predictions” of space weather, study co-author Geoffrey Vasil , a mathematician at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland, tells Marcia Dunn of the Associated Press (AP).

The sun with dark sunspots just below its center

In past work, researchers have assumed the magnetic field originates deep within the sun, somewhere around 130,000 miles beneath its surface. But the new study concluded the field’s origin is just 20,000 miles under the surface of the star.

To determine where the magnetic field begins, the researchers created models of the sun’s structure and ran them on a NASA supercomputer. They studied how small changes in the internal flow of plasma could lead to differences in the star’s magnetic field. When they modeled changes in the flow of plasma near the sun’s surface, the simulation produced magnetic structures in the same areas where sunspots truly occur, near the equator. Changes deeper in the sun, on the other hand, led to modeled fields near the sun’s poles, where they typically don’t occur in reality.

“Our work provides strong evidence that the solar cycle starts near the surface of the sun in the equatorial region,” Lecoanet tells Inverse ’s Kiona Smith.

This conclusion goes against scientists’ conventional thoughts about the sun’s magnetic field. In the editorial, Zweibel calls the modeling “highly simplistic.”

“This is far from the final word on the problem,” says Steven Balbus , an astronomer at Oxford University in England who was not involved with the study, to MIT News ’ Jennifer Chu. “However, it is a fresh and very promising avenue for further study... When the received wisdom has not been very fruitful for an extended period, something more creative is indicated, and that is what this work offers.”

Vasil tells New Scientist ’s Leah Crane that it could be easier to predict the sun’s activity and study the magnetic field if it is closer to the surface. “If the magnetic fields are sitting there, then there is the most hope for actually being able to study them.”

Previous models have been unable to predict the strength of the next solar cycle. But with this information, the researchers hope they can. “We want to forecast if the next solar cycle will be particularly strong, or maybe weaker than normal,” Lecoanet tells Inverse .

Get the latest stories in your inbox every weekday.

Will Sullivan | | READ MORE

Will Sullivan is a science writer based in Washington, D.C. His work has appeared in Inside Science and NOVA Next .

Paragraph Writing
Paragraph On Sun

Paragraph on Sun - Check Samples for 100, 150, 200 & 250 Words

The sun is the provider of light to our solar system. Viewed from earth, it rises in the east and sets in the west. The existence of life without the sun is impossible. We would never have had days and nights without the sun. To get light and for various reasons, we need the sun. The sun’s rays help synthesise vitamin D, which is essential for our body.

Paragraph on sun in 100 words, paragraph on sun in 150 words, paragraph on sun in 200 words, paragraph on sun in 250 words, frequently asked questions on sun.

When it is a cloudy day or a winter morning, we all wait for the sun to come out, but we are all irritated by the scorching sun and its rays during the summer. We have provided a few samples to help you write a paragraph about the sun. Refer to the samples provided below before writing the paragraph.

Life is impossible without the sun. The day can never start without the sunrise. It gives us light, and the rays help us synthesise vitamin D, which is essential for our body. There are also some harmful rays coming out of the sun called UV rays. Our earth is surrounded by an atmosphere that protects us from harmful UV rays. The sun is the star that is at the centre of the solar system. Sun is a huge source of heat and light which is essential for the environment. The sunlight is also essential for plants to produce food. So life without the sun is impossible.

The sun is a huge star present at the centre of the solar system. All eight planets revolve around the sun, which causes day and night. There would have been no days and nights without the sun. It is a huge source of heat and light to the earth. Humans, plants, animals, etc., cannot grow without the sun’s rays. Our days cannot start without the sunrise. When it is a cloudy day or a winter morning, we all wait for the sun to come out, but we take a lot of protection to stay away from the sun when it is a hot summer day. Not all the rays of the sun are essential for us. There are some harmful UV rays that are dangerous for humans, animals, plants, and the environment. The sun is also vital for plants to grow and prepare their food. Therefore, the sun is an integral part of our livelihood.

The sun is the only star in our solar system and is present at the centre of all the planets. All eight planets revolve around the sun. The sun is known as a gaseous ball as it is made up of different gases. It is a massive ball of gases but looks very small from the earth because of its distance. The sun’s diameter is 110 times that of the earth, and the sunlight reaches the earth in 8 minutes and 17 seconds. It is a massive source of heat and light to the earth. Humans, plants, animals, etc., cannot grow without the sun’s rays. Our days cannot start without the sunrise. When it is a cloudy day or a winter morning, we all wait for the sun to come out, but we take a lot of protection to stay away from the sun when it is a hot summer day. Without the sun, the whole world would turn into darkness. It is mainly needed during the winter days. The sun’s rays are needed for humans as it is a rich source of vitamin D, but not all sunrays are essential. A few rays, called ultraviolet rays, are harmful to the environment.

The sun is a huge star present at the centre of the solar system, and all eight planets revolve around the sun. It is a huge ball of fire and gases. It is formed of various types of gases like hydrogen, helium, oxygen, etc. The sun gives us heat and light for the environment and the growth of organisms. Humans, plants, animals, etc., cannot grow without the sun’s rays. Plants prepare their food through the process of photosynthesis, and the major component is sunlight. Without sunlight, life is impossible on earth. It provides the world with a tremendous amount of heat and light. Humans, plants, animals, and other living things cannot thrive without the energy of the sun. Our days would not be complete without the sunrise. We all wait for the sun to come out on a gloomy day or a cold winter morning, but we put on a lot of sunscreens to remain out in the sun on hot summer days. The world would be in darkness if the sun did not shine. It is primarily required during the winter months. The sun is 110 times larger than the earth but looks very small from the earth due to the large distance between them both. The sun’s rays help us synthesise vitamin D and are, therefore, very essential for human beings. But not all the rays are crucial; there are some UV rays emitted by the sun that are very harmful to the environment. Therefore the earth is surrounded by the atmosphere to save the earth from harmful UV rays.

Why is the sun essential?

The sun is essential not only for humans but also for all living and non-living organisms. It is a huge star present at the centre of the solar system, and all the planets revolve around the sun. The days and nights are caused due to the sun.

Is the sun bigger than the earth?

The diameter of the sun is 110 times the diameter of the earth. Therefore, it is 110 times larger than the earth.

Register with BYJU'S & Download Free PDFs

Sonnet 130 Summary & Analysis by William Shakespeare

Line-by-Line Explanation & Analysis
Poetic Devices
Vocabulary & References
Form, Meter, & Rhyme Scheme
Line-by-Line Explanations

"Sonnet 130" was written by the English poet and playwright William Shakespeare. Though most likely written in the 1590s, the poem wasn't published until 1609. Like many other sonnets from the same period, Shakespeare's poem wrestles with beauty, love, and desire. He tries to find a more authentic, realistic way to talk about these things in the sonnet, and gleefully dismisses the highly artificial poems of praise his peers were writing. Shakespeare's poem also departs from his contemporaries in terms of formal structure — it is a new kind of sonnet—the "Shakespearean" sonnet.

Read the full text of “Sonnet 130: My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun”

The Full Text of “Sonnet 130: My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun”

1 My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun;

2 Coral is far more red than her lips' red;

3 If snow be white, why then her breasts are dun;

4 If hairs be wires, black wires grow on her head.

5 I have seen roses damasked, red and white,

6 But no such roses see I in her cheeks;

7 And in some perfumes is there more delight

8 Than in the breath that from my mistress reeks.

9 I love to hear her speak, yet well I know

10 That music hath a far more pleasing sound;

11 I grant I never saw a goddess go;

12 My mistress, when she walks, treads on the ground.

13 And yet, by heaven, I think my love as rare

14 As any she belied with false compare.

“Sonnet 130: My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun” Summary

“sonnet 130: my mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun” themes.

Beauty and Love

See where this theme is active in the poem.

Love, Personality, and the Superficial

Line-by-line explanation & analysis of “sonnet 130: my mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun”.

My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun;

Coral is far more red than her lips' red; If snow be white, why then her breasts are dun; If hairs be wires, black wires grow on her head.

I have seen roses damasked, red and white, But no such roses see I in her cheeks; And in some perfumes is there more delight Than in the breath that from my mistress reeks.

I love to hear her speak, yet well I know That music hath a far more pleasing sound; I grant I never saw a goddess go; My mistress, when she walks, treads on the ground.

Lines 13-14

And yet, by heaven, I think my love as rare As any she belied with false compare.

“Sonnet 130: My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun” Symbols

See where this symbol appears in the poem.

“Sonnet 130: My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun” Poetic Devices & Figurative Language

See where this poetic device appears in the poem.

Parallelism

End-stopped line, “sonnet 130: my mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun” vocabulary.

Select any word below to get its definition in the context of the poem. The words are listed in the order in which they appear in the poem.

See where this vocabulary word appears in the poem.

Form, Meter, & Rhyme Scheme of “Sonnet 130: My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun”

Rhyme scheme, “sonnet 130: my mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun” speaker, “sonnet 130: my mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun” setting, literary and historical context of “sonnet 130: my mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun”, more “sonnet 130: my mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun” resources, external resources.

Harryette Mullen's "Dim Lady" — Read the full text of Harryette Mullen's "Dim Lady," a rewriting of Shakespeare's Sonnet 130.

"Sonnet 130" Glossary — A glossary and commentary on Sonnet 130 from Buckingham University.

1609 Quarto Printing of Shakespeare's Sonnet 130 — An image of Shakespeare's Sonnet 130 as it appeared in its first printing, in 1609.

Reading of "Sonnet 130" — Ian Midlane reads "Sonnet 130" for the BBC, introduced by some smooth jazz.

Blazon Lady — See an image of Charles Berger's blazon lady and read Thomas Campion's contemporaneous blazon.

Sidney's Astrophil and Stella #9 — Read the full text of Sidney's earlier blazon, Astrophil and Stella #9.

LitCharts on Other Poems by William Shakespeare

Sonnet 116: Let me not to the marriage of true minds

Sonnet 129: Th' expense of spirit in a waste of shame

Sonnet 12: When I do count the clock that tells the time

Sonnet 138: When my love swears that she is made of truth

Sonnet 141: In faith, I do not love thee with mine eyes

Sonnet 147: My love is as a fever, longing still

Sonnet 18: Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?

Sonnet 19: Devouring Time, blunt thou the lion's paws

Sonnet 20: A woman’s face with nature’s own hand painted

Sonnet 27: "Weary with toil, I haste me to my bed"

Sonnet 29: When, in disgrace with fortune and men’s eyes

Sonnet 30: When to the sessions of sweet silent thought

Sonnet 33: Full many a glorious morning have I seen

Sonnet 45: The other two, slight air and purging fire

Sonnet 55: Not marble nor the gilded monuments

Sonnet 60: Like as the waves make towards the pebbl'd shore

Sonnet 65 ("Since brass, nor stone, nor earth, nor boundless sea")

Sonnet 71: No longer mourn for me when I am dead

Sonnet 73: That time of year thou mayst in me behold

Sonnet 94: "They that have power to hurt"

Ask LitCharts AI: The answer to your questions

Opinion | My City, My Voice: What do Baltimore teens wish…

Opinion | My City, My Voice: What do Baltimore teens wish others knew about them?

Teen winners of The Baltimore Sun's My City, My Voice, essay contest participate in a roundtable with Baltimore Sun diversity, equity and inclusion reporter Maya Lora, right, at the Enoch Pratt Central Library, on May 22, 2024.

From left, Brandi Gonzales, 14, of Cheswolde, Amirah Haney, 18, of Arlington and Chaneé Howard, 18, of Franklin Square participate in a panel discussion with two other teen winners of The Baltimore Sun's My City, My Voice essay contest. (Amy Davis/Staff)

Members of the audience listen to the five teen winners of the Baltimore Sun's My City, My Voice essay contest during a roundtable at the Enoch Pratt Central Library on May 22, 2024. (Amy Davis/Staff)

Teen winners of The Baltimore Sun's My City, My Voice essay contest participate in a roundtable as panelists with Baltimore Sun reporter Maya Lora, at right, at the Enoch Pratt Central Library. (Amy Davis/Staff)

One of the five winners of The Baltimore Sun's teen essay contest, Victoria Atewogbola, 14, of Belair-Edison, left, answers a question from Baltimore Sun reporter Maya Lora during a roundtable at the Enoch Pratt Central Library on May 22, 2024. (Amy Davis/Staff)

Baltimore Sun Managing Editor Samuel C. Davis congratulates Victoria Atewogbola, right, and the other teen winners of The Baltimore Sun's essay contest. (Amy Davis/Staff)

Sun diversity, equity and inclusion reporter Maya Lora, right, moderates a discussion with My City, My Voice essay contest winners, from left, Amirah Haney, 18, of Arlington, Chaneé Howard, 18, of Franklin Square, Jaylah James, 15, of Edmondson Village, and Victoria Atewogbola, 14, of Belair-Edison, at the Enoch Pratt Central Library on May 22, 2024. Not pictured is contest winner Brandi Gonzales, 14, of Cheswolde. (Amy Davis/Staff)

From left, Chanée Howard, 18, of Franklin Square, Jaylah James, 15, of Edmondson Village, Amirah Haney, 18, of Arlington, Victoria Atewogbola, 14, of Belair-Edison, and Brandi Gonzales, 14, of Cheswolde, are the winners of the Baltimore Sun's inaugural My City, My Voice" teen essay contest. (Amy Davis/Staff)

A screen displays the names of the winners of The Baltimore Sun's inaugural My City, My Voice teen essay contest. (Amy Davis/Staff)

Eric Ford, executive director of the UMBC Shriver Center, addresses the audience at a roundtable featuring the teen winners of The Baltimore Sun's My City, My Voice essay contest. UMBC was a sponsor of the contest and event. (Amy Davis/Staff photo)

The audience listens to the teen winners of the My City, My Voice essay contest during a panel discussion at the Enoch Pratt Central Library on May 22, 2024. (Amy Davis/Staff)

Samuel C. Davis, Baltimore Sun managing editor, welcomes the audience to a roundtable with five teens who won The Sun's "My City, My Voice" essay contest. (Amy Davis/Staff)

I just wanted to be a kid for once. That rare night out flipped how I feel about becoming an adult.

A one-way sign marks the southerly flow of N. Monroe Street at Edmondson Ave. in West Baltimore. For Chanée Howard, one of the My City, My Voice essay contest winners, a rare night out outside the city changed her perspective on turning 18. (Chanée Howard)

Free. That’s what my friends and I felt one surprisingly warm October night as we drove around Towson. I had grown up inside of my home, not allowed to go anywhere with anyone, as the streets were too dangerous. My entire life was “Did you hear about … what happened at …?”

There is no place for teenagers in Baltimore. It’s just a cycle of keeping an eye out for possible danger that is everywhere. If you walk for long enough, you’ll hear gunshots off in the distance, a grown man trying to holla at a girl, young or old, police and ambulance sirens closing in. Everyone says New York is “the city that never sleeps” but living in Baltimore, I beg to differ.

Asking my mother a question like “Can I go out with friends?”, something she has said “no” to so many times before was the most nerve-wracking thing to me. This time, I hoped she’d say yes. She had to. I was an “A” and “B” student. I was about to turn 18. I was a good kid who just wanted to be a kid at least once before it was over.

A police car is seen at the end of a roadway leading to a ballfield in the northwestern corner of Druid Hill Park. The field is adjacent to the former Reptile House of what is now called the Maryland Zoo. (Chanée Howard)

The thought of turning 18 was, to me, not a fun one like people made it out to be. Turning 18 in Baltimore was an inevitable fear. Eighteen meant needing to have a job even if you hated it. Eighteen meant soon being questioned by family and friends whether you had a man and when were you going to have kids. At 18, Baltimore started looking like an invisible box, walking up and down the same street you grew up on, to go to work and to come home, and nothing else, that is, until God called you home. I didn’t want any of that, but it felt inevitable.

Shockingly, my mother said yes. That night, we went bowling, walked around the mall, ate, and laughed. We piled into a friend’s mother’s minivan and drove around until it was time to go home, having already planned the next time we would go out.

That night lit something inside me. Something clicked, something hot, something that made my heart swell beyond my chest, something that made my mind wander beyond the few streets of Baltimore City that I knew. That night being 18 in Baltimore wasn’t the end, but my beginning.

— Chanée Howard, 18, Franklin Square*

Expecting the worst out of teens is a stereotype that fulfills and perpetuates itself.

When I was younger I felt as though I could be anything and that nothing could stop me from being what I wanted to be. But now, I feel something different. Teens in Baltimore are capable of extraordinary things, but people don’t seem to care enough to see it.

My parents are some of those adults who want to believe in me to graduate and go to college. But they don’t see what I see, feel what I feel, or even think what I think. Can you believe that my dad thought I couldn’t get into Western High School? He told me not in a sour way but in a surprised voice. I didn’t know how to feel. But I felt like most teenagers in Baltimore — “dumb” — even if they won’t admit it, ’cause, if someone close didn’t believe in me, how could I?

You see, when I look on social media on those Baltimore pages, I don’t see anything about teenagers doing anything great. Instead, I see teenagers who either committed a crime or have died. The adolescents who live in Baltimore will always be thought about in this way simply because we follow the adolescents before us.

People don’t say, “Oh yeah, didn’t a teenager get an award there last month?” Instead, they say, “Didn’t a boy die ’cause he was dealing with gangs?” But that boy could’ve been remembered by something else.

This is who they are supposed to be. When we are brought up, people don’t say, “Oh yeah, didn’t a teenager get an award there last month?” Instead, they say, “Didn’t a boy die ’cause he was dealing with gangs?” But that boy could’ve been remembered by something else. He could’ve been a well-known artist remembered by his art and not violence. The thing is that teenagers here will always end up in a bad situation because we are following adults here and we will soon tell our teens the same statements.

We only know what we see and hear. We don’t know what we can show and tell because there is no one there to truly believe in us. Being a teen in Baltimore shouldn’t be in the way of me and others being someone great. Teenagers in Baltimore are capable of extraordinary things but they don’t know how to share their abilities, nor does it seem people care enough to see them. So I just sit, put my headphones on and see what most adults can’t.

— Jaylah James, 15, Edmondson Village*

In a city of contrasts, drugs and guns are opportunities that can knock persistently.

Weathered remembrances adorn a utility pole on Sinclair Lane in Northeast Baltimore. (Victoria Atewogbola)

As a teenager living in Baltimore, I wish people understood how easy it was to make bad decisions. I am an immigrant, hailing from Nigeria. I immigrated well over seven years ago, coming to live in eastern Baltimore. My time living as a teenager in Baltimore has come with many perks, and penalties as well. Baltimore is extremely culturally diverse, with its residents saluting from many different places in the world. Because of this, I have been open to loads of different points of view, and the dissimilar ways that people see life. Nevertheless, there is one thing that many Baltimoreans can agree on: the danger that comes with living in our city. There are countless examples of why Baltimore is so dangerous, which is constantly covered by the media. However, no one has ever truly expanded on how much more threatening it is as a teen living in Baltimore City.

Litter like this cigar wrap packaging is among ways teens can be exposed to drugs, a subject of the essay by Victoria Atewogbola, one of the My City, My Voice winners. (Victoria Atewogbola)

Everywhere I go, I am met with persistent examples of why Baltimore is so rich: the art, the food, the music, etc. Nonetheless, I am also faced with reasons why it is so easy to be led astray in this city. To say that the opportunities in Baltimore are endless would not be an understatement, but that does not always have good meaning behind it. As a teenager in this city, it is almost impossible to avoid an experience with some form of illegality, especially when it comes to substances. I am almost ashamed to speak about how easy it would be for me to obtain some form of drugs, guns, and even more as a teenager. To say that it is practically normal for people my age to have experience with this would be an understatement. I am enraged at how easy it is to be led astray as a young person. I am frustrated that there are not enough set laws and regulations in place that prevent this. However, in spite of all of this, I am disheartened that experience in these topics is viewed as customary, just because I happen to be a teenager who lives in Baltimore.

— Victoria Atewogbola, 14, Belair-Edison*

To try to fit in, I was changing who I was. I caught myself, but too many teens don’t.

To put it simply, the city of Baltimore is a tough hill to climb; it’s a hill that so many fail to climb, especially teenagers. It’s a hill that needs to be climbed in order to navigate your way through this city.

Being a teenager in Baltimore can feel like walking through a room with no lights. Many teenagers feel lost. Many teenagers feel a constant need to fit in that can lead them to make poor decisions out of fear of being picked on for not fitting in.

When I migrated from Trinidad to Baltimore I was met with a drastic culture change. The schools of Baltimore, the citizens of Baltimore, the places of Baltimore, etc. It was all so new to me, I felt out of place as if I wasn’t meant to be here. Wherever I spoke others looked at me as though my words were secret codes only I knew. The kids thought of me as some alien that was attending their school from some alien planet they never heard of. All of this led to me making decisions I should have left as just thoughts, such as changing who I was in order to be accepted. I did all of this as a shield to protect me from the poisonous arrows that came after every laugh, every negative comment, every bit of embarrassment.

So many teenagers have taken the wrong road as I almost did. Some don’t even realize they are going the wrong way until they no longer recognize their surroundings or even themselves as they are too far gone.

Looking back I realize that many teenagers have been through this; they are going through it right now as I write down these words. Teenagers in Baltimore are lost in the dark room searching for the light. It’s time that more people help those teenagers find the light by understanding their struggles. So many teenagers have taken the wrong road, as I almost did. Some don’t even realize they are going the wrong way until they no longer recognize their surroundings or even themselves as they are too far gone. But there is always hope. Impossible only exists if you don’t believe in possible. You don’t water the leaves of a plant, you water the roots. It’s time we look for the root of the problem before we start attacking what’s on the outside. Teenagers of Baltimore are heavily influenced by others; it’s time to limit this influence and open the gate to let the true love of Baltimore flow once again. It’s never too late.

— Brandi Gonzales, 14, Cheswolde*

People know Baltimore’s quirks and problems. But they don’t know me.

Being a teenager in Baltimore can be intimidating. Most people have an idea of what you should be like, talk like, and act like, but I don’t fit in any of those boxes. The majority of people get their information from social media and occasionally the news, though it isn’t as popular in this generation. Platforms like TikTok, Instagram and X, formerly Twitter, have made it a common thing to categorize people from Baltimore claiming they know us from the way we say “tew” or based on how we dance. But I wish people understood that not all of us are the same or fit in that box.

Amirah Haney, 18, one of the My City, My Voice essay contest winners, poses near the Inner Harbor. Amirah wrote about charting her own path in the face of assumptions others make about her. (Myra Boyd)

I personally don’t want to be defined by my environment. Just because I live in Park Heights doesn’t mean I sell drugs. Just because I work in Mondawmin Mall doesn’t mean I witness shootings all the time. These are just a few of the fixed assumptions people make about people from Baltimore City. I couldn’t be more opposite. I am usually shy and avoid meeting new people. If I see a crowd of people, I’m quick to go another way even if it means it takes me longer to get to my destination. I work at Mondawmin Mall because it’s close and convenient. I’ve never had alcohol or drugs and don’t plan on doing so. I haven’t gotten into a fight since middle school, and I hate dancing in public. I wish people understood that a lot of teens have goals and want to leave this city but often don’t have the opportunities or financial stability to do so.

The greenery of late spring frames a gray Northwest Baltimore sky. (Amirah Haney)

Sometimes even our family holds us back, whether that is because they need us to take care of our younger siblings or for more selfish reasons. Too many of us are young moms and feel that that’s our sole responsibility and we can’t leave or dedicate time to school because we’re too busy being moms. I know this could apply to people all over the world, but I think people don’t really expect successful people from Baltimore or have lost hope, especially for teens. Living in Baltimore, a city of lost souls, poverty and crime doesn’t define me. I will always put my best foot forward and continue to strive for the best, regardless of what people think even if that means I’ll have to do it on my own.

— Amirah Haney, 18, Arlington*

Gunshots can have a long echo for the young bereaved like me.

Do you know how hard it is for teenagers to grow up with one parent? Growing up with one parent is hard and it’s very sad and stressful. Being a teenager in Baltimore, there’s a lot of killing that takes people’s families away from them, seeing a loved one just be gone forever. People should understand that it’s hard and it could change the person mentally and emotionally by losing a loved one.

During my childhood, I always spent time with my dad, always having fun around the people he was around and feeling loved. At the age of 6, my dad was taken away from me by gun violence and I was never going to be able to see him again. The rest of my childhood was good because I didn’t realize the loss I had until I got older. My dad’s death wasn’t impacting me because I was so young. I just knew that I wasn’t seeing him anymore; even at his funeral, I wasn’t sad.

As I got older I started to get sadder. I tried to stay connected with my dad’s side of the family that I would always be around but eventually, we fell off. Finally hearing the story of how my dad passed was creating anger in me. I started to put my guard up with everyone; I didn’t trust anyone. My mom started to see the change in me. I wasn’t letting anyone in and didn’t talk about my feelings at all. I became very calm and emotionless about everything.

I had no other parent to go to when I and my mom got into an argument like other kids did. Seeing my cousins have a good relationship with their dads would sometimes hurt me because I wish I could have that.

The way I changed started to affect all of my relationships. I was going through changes mentally and more and more people started to realize something was wrong. Every time I had to talk about my feelings, I shut down. Having only one parent was hard at times. I had no other parent to go to when I and my mom got into an argument like other kids did. Seeing my cousins have a good relationship with their dads would sometimes hurt me because I wish I could have that.

As a teenager in Baltimore, I want people to understand that gun violence kills family members and it impacts us by causing us to change mentally and emotionally.

— Laithan Phillips, 15, Perring Loch

Baltimore is brimming with passion. I see it, but more people need to be shown it.

s expected, Baltimore is defined as an “urban” area. According to the Department of Health, urban areas are “”locations with high population density.” However, as a society, we have labeled the word urban as another word for Black. Some may also argue that “urban” has a negative connotation. Despite knowing that, I am proud to say I am from an urban area. I am proud to say I am from Baltimore.

When people think of Baltimore, what is the first thing that comes to mind? Poverty? Drugs? Even murder? As someone who has lived in Baltimore for as long as I can remember, I can tell you Baltimore is so much more than that.

Baltimore bleeds passion from every crack and crevice. Growing up in Baltimore, you realize that there is passion all around you. Everyone wants to have a grind; everyone wants to have a hustle. From little girls braiding hair, to boys cutting hair. People from this city want others to succeed. They want another success story about how someone from their city made it. They want inspiration and proof that they can reach their goals while being from a city that is portrayed so negatively.

People from this city want others to succeed. They want another success story about how someone from their city made it. They want inspiration and proof that they can reach their goals while being from a city that is portrayed so negatively.

I’d say Baltimore is the hidden gem of cities. When you think of places you want to visit or potentially live, Baltimore is usually not on the list. It is overlooked, despite being one of the most beautiful, passionate and hearty cities out there.

No other place goes as hard for their city as Baltimore. We rock Ravens jerseys as if the last time we made it to the Super Bowl wasn’t 2013. The whole city makes a ruckus over the Poly vs. City homecoming game, despite us knowing who wins before the game even begins. You know you’re in Baltimore when you see people rocking Under Armour like it’s designer. You know you’re in Baltimore when you see a group of girls and they’re all wearing puff-sleeved denim jackets. We are the type of city that despite any “beef” we may have with people, we know when Lor Scoota comes on it’s time to put that all aside. We’re the type of city that has everyone mesmerized when pronouncing “to” and “you.” Baltimore is the type of city to have a mayor with an Afro. Baltimore is much more than what they show in the media.

— Empress Rasheem, 16, Hamilton Hills

How does it feel to be a teen? Under-understood.

Being a teen in Baltimore ain’t an easy life. When you are living in a fast world, it’s hard to balance growing up fast to adapt to society but not too fast to be seen as fast.

Around my peers, I always feel like I’m behind in something as if I’m too short on something. I’m always the “No, I don’t smoke” friend, the “I don’t go to parties” friend. But strangely enough, I’m the most experienced. I’m the friend that “swears like a sailor” or can give you relationship advice. Nevertheless, I’m also a friend that you can lean on because I understand what it’s like to feel alone. I listen to my friends dealing with mental health because I understand what it’s like to feel like something is always wrong with you, that I’m never enough. I always feel like teenage life is hating yourself until you have reached self-acceptance. I understand that my peers smoke because their life ain’t easy, that they use smoking to help the fact that their life ain’t no piece of cake. I understand that my peers go to parties to let go of their problems and have fun. I just wish adults understood that. I’m not condoning smoking or the bad things that come with partying; however, I understand.

Giving kids an environment to be vulnerable helps them shake off their troubles without resorting to drugs.

Understanding is something I think adults lack. It’s always “You think my life’s easy?” or “You’re too young to experience anxiety/depression.” Comments like these cause kids to pick up those habits, especially if their parents do it. Giving kids an environment to be vulnerable helps them shake off their troubles without resorting to drugs. Also, “old school” parents make it harder to balance teen life. I try to use clothes and music to help balance. Yet it always turns into “You’re a representation of me, and you will dress accordingly.” Making me dress as if I’m not a teen. When I listen to music, they worry too much about the fact that the artist is cussing instead of the message.

Saying teen life isn’t easy is an understatement. As teens, we go through a lot that adults can’t understand. Each generation has their problems that they have to deal with growing up. We as teens just want adults to remember their experiences and empathize with teens to help them become independent adults, not just surviving adults.

— Onyx Abung, 15, East Arlington

This project was sponsored by UMBC and supported by the Solutions Journalism Network Complicating the Narratives fellowship of former Sun audience engagement journalist Sanya Kamidi.

More in Opinion

MASN announcers at work in Oriole Park at Camden Yards.

Opinion | MASN subscribers getting shortchanged by Orioles | READER COMMENTARY

While the unhinged beliefs of the Trumpist cult represent the graver danger to American democracy, the irrational passions of the radicalized left also constitute a threat.

Commentary | Irritational far left is imitating the far right | GUEST COMMENTARY

Our elected officials should encourage a return to merit, academic excellence, and free and open inquiry in our education system.

Commentary | Ben Carson: It is past time for American academia to reject DEI | GUEST COMMENTARY

Jury Continues Deliberations In Trump Hush Money Trial

Opinion | READER POLL: Did former President Donald Trump receive a fair trial in the New York hush money case?

Search 45 years of archives

Popular Pages
Readers Write

About The Sun

The Sun is an independent, ad-free magazine that for more than forty-five years has used words and photographs to evoke the splendor and heartache of being human. Each monthly issue celebrates life, but not in a way that ignores its complexity. The personal essays, short stories, interviews, poetry, and photographs that appear in The Sun ’s pages explore the challenges we face and the moments when we rise to meet them.

From its idealistic, unlikely inception in 1974 to its current incarnation as a nonprofit magazine with more than 60,000 print and digital subscribers, The Sun has attempted to marry the personal and political; to challenge the status quo and reveal injustice; to honor courageous and honest writing; and to touch the mystery of our humanity. In a world where advertising pursues us almost everywhere, The Sun remains a rare ad-free sanctuary.

Writing from The Sun has won the Pushcart Prize and been selected for numerous anthologies, including Best American Short Stories and Best American Essays .

Sy Safransky offers a few words about the magazine he started more than forty-five years ago.

The Sun Publishing Company, Inc. is a tax-exempt, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and is supported primarily by subscriptions and reader contributions. Donations to The Sun are tax-deductible.

Send to a Friend

MORE SECTIONS

Social Casino

Spice Girls on tenterhooks over potential email leak that exposes spat between Posh and bandmates

Amir Razavi , Showbiz News Correspondent
Published : 14:00 ET, May 30 2024
Updated : 7:41 ET, May 31 2024
Published : Invalid Date,

UNEDIFYING details of a private chat between three of the Spice Girls caused some blushes - and fury - when they emerged in court papers this week.

In it, a brutally frank Mel B told bandmates Geri Halliwell and Emma Bunton that "charity doesn't pay the bills" when seemingly discussing a reunion gig.

We have been told the catty emails include Posh being slagged off by her bandmates

The Sun understands the leaking of those messages, which formed part of a defamation lawsuit filed on Wednesday in the US , has enraged the '90s pop icons.

And there is likely to be some more rage and red faces over a load of bitchy exchanges kicking around from years ago, before Posh , Scary, Sporty , Baby and Ginger became best of friends again.

We have been told there is a tranche of catty emails which include Posh being slagged off for the way she behaved at the premiere of the Viva Forever! West End musical on December 11, 2012.

She had arrived late on the night having been stuck in traffic, and then chose to sit separately from the group during the show.

Sources say that did not go down well with Mel B, 49, in particular, and it came just months after the girls reunited as a five-piece for the London Olympics closing ceremony.

And we have been told they also secretly called in lawyers over a potential tour which did not include Victoria Beckham - in case she tried to stop them.

At one point a few years later, fractures between the other three and Victoria and Mel C, both 50, appeared to be at rock bottom - as they plotted a comeback without them.

A source told The Sun one girl even bitched about the financial woes of one of her bandmates to a confidant.

Most read in Bizarre

Tupac suspect stands chance of walking free despite murder confession

Heidi Klum, 51, looks incredible as she bares all and strips fully naked

Abandoned tennis court at Serena's crumbling old home seen in drone footage

Ben Affleck appears on the brink of tears during walk in concerning new photos

This all comes after Mel B's group chat with Geri, 51, and Emma, 48, emerged.

Ironically, Geri told Mel after her "charity doesn't pay" remark that she hopes "nobody ever hacks your texts" - to which Mel said: “Why? My texts are fine," before adding: “Like I said charity doesn’t pay the bills everyone no’s that."

Our source said: "This is highly embarrassing for the girls as it doesn't exactly chime with their core messages.

"But obviously it was a fair few years ago now and they've all kissed and made up since then.

"Just look at how happy they were together celebrating Victoria's 50th birthday back in April , belting out their greatest hits together after a few drinks.

"The hatchet is well and truly buried."

The girls also called in lawyers over a tour which did not include Victoria - in case Posh tried to stop the project, we have been told

Spice Girls
The Sun Newspaper
Emma Bunton
Geri Horner
Victoria Beckham

Essay: What if Israel Had Been in China?

Create an FP account to save articles to read later and in the FP mobile app.

ALREADY AN FP SUBSCRIBER? LOGIN

World Brief
Editors’ Picks
Africa Brief
China Brief
Latin America Brief
South Asia Brief
Situation Report
Flash Points
War in Ukraine
Israel and Hamas
U.S.-China competition
U.S. election 2024
Biden's foreign policy
Trade and economics
Artificial intelligence
Asia & the Pacific
Middle East & Africa

Analyzing India’s Election Results

Ones and tooze, foreign policy live.

Spring 2024 Issue

Print Archive

FP Analytics

In-depth Special Reports
Issue Briefs
Power Maps and Interactive Microsites
FP Simulations & PeaceGames
Graphics Database

Catalysts for Change

Fp at nato’s 75th summit, nato in a new era, fp security forum, fp @ unga79.

By submitting your email, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use and to receive email correspondence from us. You may opt out at any time.

Your guide to the most important world stories of the day

Essential analysis of the stories shaping geopolitics on the continent

The latest news, analysis, and data from the country each week

Weekly update on what’s driving U.S. national security policy

Evening roundup with our editors’ favorite stories of the day

One-stop digest of politics, economics, and culture

Weekly update on developments in India and its neighbors

A curated selection of our very best long reads

What if Israel Had Been in China?

How albert einstein, a brooklyn dentist, and pre-world war ii chinese leaders tried to create a jewish homeland in yunnan..

On March 7, 1939, China’s top legislative official, Sun Ke, filed a dispatch to the government’s Civil Affairs Office. As a member of the Supreme Council for National Defense, he had spent the previous two years searching for ways to give China a fighting chance against the invading Japanese. Now, Sun Ke wanted to brief his colleagues on a seemingly unrelated issue: the plight of the Jewish people.

“These people suffer the most from being without a country, and for more than 2,600 years they have moved about homeless,” Sun Ke wrote, before describing Hitler’s plans for extermination. “The British want to set up a permanent settlement in Palestine,” he continued, “but this has provoked vehement opposition from the Arabs there, and the violence has not yet died down.”

Sun Ke believed that a more suitable refuge could be found in his own country. Not in Shanghai, where 20,000 Jews had already fled, but in the Himalayan foothills of China’s hinterland. With Laos to the south and what was then called Burma to the west, Yunnan was a border province with an unusually temperate climate, staggering natural beauty, and enough uncultivated land to accommodate 100,000 Jews fleeing Nazi persecution. What it lacked in scriptural significance, it made up for with its history free of antisemitic violence.

To Sun Ke and the unlikely coalition of Kuomintang (KMT) officials and American Jews who rallied behind his plan, Yunnan represented nothing less than the promised land of China.

In the 85 years since, the Yunnan settlement plan has been mostly forgotten. But never in that time has China’s position on Zionism mattered as much as it does today. Since Oct. 7, 2023, the Israel-Hamas war has forced Beijing to reckon with its newfound status as an emerging superpower and the expectation that it will play a role in every aspect of world affairs, no matter the region.

To fully understand China’s approach to the Middle East, we must return to the 1930s, when the idea for a Jewish homeland in Yunnan transformed from the parlor room fodder of a Brooklyn dentist into the official policy of the Chinese government.

A Jewish wedding in Shanghai, where some 20,000 European Jews would eventually flee, seen in 1938. Shanghai Jewish Refugees Museum

In January 1934, a dentist from Brooklyn named Maurice William wrote a letter to Albert Einstein to present his idea for Jewish resettlement in China. “During a visit at the summer home of Judge [Louis] Brandeis last September we naturally discussed the plight of German Jews,” William wrote. “He too feels that China is the one great hope for Hitler’s victims.”

“Your plan,” Einstein responded , “seems to me to be very hopeful and rational and its realization must be pursued energetically.” The more he thought about the plan, the more sense it made. “The Chinese and Jewish peoples,” he told William two months later, “in spite of any apparent differences in their traditions, have this in common: both possess a mentality that is the product of cultures that go back to antiquity.”

By the time that William wrote to Einstein, Jewish leaders in Europe had long been searching for a homeland outside of Palestine—“Zionism without Zion,” as historian Gur Alroey put it. Russian activist Leon Pinsker crystallized the idea in his 1882 manifesto Autoemancipation! , writing that “the goal of our present endeavors must be not the ‘Holy Land,’ but a land of our own.” Territorialists, as his followers came to be known, spent the next four decades trying , and failing, to achieve Pinsker’s goal.

So there was nothing revolutionary about William’s proposed settlement, except for its location. Previous plans, including the 1903 Uganda Scheme and the Zionist project itself, targeted areas within existing colonial territories. William was the first to suggest that China, a young republic still struggling to transform itself into a modern state, might be willing to make room for Jewish settlers.

William was an unlikely champion for the project. He had no formal education, no previous ties to territorialism, and had never traveled to China. But through a combination of bootstrapping self-promotion and good fortune, William became not only a well-known figure among the KMT elite, but also a respected U.S. authority on China.

In 1923, William’s self-published refutation of Marxism, The Social Interpretation of History , found its way into the hands of Nationalist Party Premier Sun Yat-sen (Sun Ke’s father), who was in the process of articulating his economic vision for the country. Sun drew heavily on William’s language in a series of lectures that he delivered the following year. At one point, he mentioned the Social Interpretation by name. When the KMT published a book based on the lectures after Sun Yat-sen’s death a few years later, it catapulted William from unknown foreigner to philosophical luminary.

Americans first learned about William’s achievement from a 1927 article in Asia Magazine , which declared that Sun Yat-sen “bases his anti-Marxian position almost verbatim upon a little-known work from the pen of an American author.” William soon found himself in contact with some of the United States’ leading intellectuals, including not only Einstein and Brandeis, but also John Dewey and the Columbia historian James T. Shotwell, both of whom would later express their support for his Jewish settlement plan.

The Chinese government proved less receptive. Before writing to Einstein, William had discussed his plan in depth with Ambassador Alfred Sao-ke Sze, who agreed that importing German Jews could be a boon for the Chinese economy. Sze’s superiors in the KMT valued William’s opinion. But not as much as they valued their relations with Germany, which had stepped up its military and economic aid to China soon after the Nazis took power.

Constructing a settlement for the exact people that Hitler reviled was sure to offend the German government, the KMT leadership figured. Several years would pass before they became desperate enough to reconsider.

Jewish refugees walk among locals on the streets of Shanghai’s working-class Hongkou district during World War II. They were forced into the small district by the occupying Japanese army. Shanghai Jewish Refugees Museum

On Christmas Eve, 1938, Shanghai Municipal Council (SMC) Secretary G. Godfrey Phillips sent an urgent cable to the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee: “Shanghai is gravely perturbed by abnormal influx of Jewish refugees,” he warned. “Shanghai is already facing the most serious refugee problem due to Sinojapanese hostilities. It is quite impossible to absorb any large number of foreign refugees.”

Shanghai enjoyed an unusual status in the early days of World War II. Japanese forces captured the city in November 1937, but they left control of the International Settlement in the hands of the SMC. Under its multinational leadership, Shanghai remained one of the few ports in the world that would allow stateless persons entry. From 1937 to 1939, more than 20,000 Jewish refugees , mostly from Central Europe, flooded into the city.

Over that same period, China suffered a string of devastating military defeats at the hands of the Japanese. After capturing Shanghai in November, the Imperial Army marched on Nanjing, forcing Chiang Kai-shek and his government to flee. By January 1939, the Japanese controlled nearly the entirety of China’s eastern seaboard. Chiang’s forces had halted the Imperial Army’s advance, but Chinese pleas for U.S. and British military support continued to fall flat.

Soon after Phillips sent his cable, Sun Ke learned that SMC officials planned to restrict the flow of refugees to Shanghai. Resettling Jewish refugees in Yunnan suddenly seemed to him like the perfect solution to the joint crises facing his country. He began drafting his dispatch to the Civil Affairs Office the next month.

The logic behind Sun Ke’s proposal was simple: If China offered refuge to the persecuted Jews of Europe, then their co-religionists in the United States and Britain might convince those governments to support China against the Japanese. “British economic support was in truth manipulated by these large merchants and bankers,” Sun Ke wrote, “and since many of these large merchants and bankers are Jewish, therefore this proposal would influence the British to have an even more favorable attitude toward us.”

In addition to their propaganda value, Sun Ke believed that Jewish refugees had something to offer a Chinese province lagging in economic development. In the short term, the symbol of Jewish refugees could help China win the war. In the long term, the refugees themselves, with their “strong financial background and many talents,” as he put it, could help China develop into a great nation.

His reasoning echoed that of Einstein, who told William back in 1934 that his settlement project would “place at the service of China the beneficent aid of Western skill, knowledge and science.” The historical record reveals no direct link between the plan that William presented to Einstein in 1934 and Sun Ke’s proposal in 1939. However, William’s renown in the KMT and his correspondence with Sze, the ambassador, both suggest that the similarities between his idea and Sun Ke’s proposal were the result of influence, not coincidence.

A wall displaying the names of Jewish refugees who lived in Shanghai during the 1930s and 1940s is unveiled at the Shanghai Jewish Refugees Museum on Sept. 3, 2014. Johannes Eisele/AFP via Getty Images

Some within the Chinese government doubted that engaging with the thorny issue of Jewish refugees would be worth it. The Foreign Ministry warned that governing Jews in China would only be tenable in the short term, before their demands for autonomy became too difficult to control. China’s Interior Ministry went further. “The enemy and fascist countries are constantly alleging that we are a communist state,” ministry officials wrote, “and at this time to take in a large number of Jews will make it difficult to avoid giving the enemy a pretext for propaganda. In general, in fascist theory, communism and the Jews are frequently mentioned in the same breath.”

But the promise of potentially attracting Western military assistance proved stronger. In March 1939, the KMT approved Sun Ke’s proposal and began publicizing the Yunnan plan in the Chinese and U.S. press. That they lacked a clear plan of execution made little difference. Since Jewish settlement’s primary appeal lay in its propaganda value, merely declaring support for it could be enough to win the sympathy of the Americans.

When William heard about Sun Ke’s proposal, he burst into action. His peers in the United States had given him nothing but positive feedback, and with the KMT on board, it looked like his idea could finally become a reality. But the moment William started to ask for government money, things started to look different.

Jewish refugees aboard the St. Louis arrive in Antwerp, Belgium, on June 17, 1938. Keystone/Getty Images

In response to polls revealing an electorate preoccupied with domestic issues, the Roosevelt administration’s foreign policy took a distinctly anti-immigration turn in the run-up to the 1940 presidential election. After Hitler annexed Austria in March 1938, the State Department maintained its quota of 27,730 visas for Germans, even as applications soared. By June 1939, the waiting list had grown to more than 300,000 . That month, an ocean liner called the St. Louis carrying 937 mostly Jewish refugees from Hamburg got within sight of the Miami harbor. U.S. immigration officers sent the ship back to Europe, where hundreds of its passengers were later murdered in the Holocaust.

It was against this nativist backdrop that William began holding meetings with State Department officials in August 1939. They referred him to a committee that advised Roosevelt on refugee affairs, but no records of any further meetings survive. For a project that would involve transporting 100,000 refugees from central Europe to China, the U.S. government’s refusal to provide funding represented a death blow.

The exact circumstances in which the KMT abandoned the project are similarly murky. But this much is clear: In the archives of the year 1939, there was a cacophony of discussion surrounding the Yunnan settlement plans. Press conferences in Shanghai, dispatches from Chongqing, meetings in Washington. Objections, assessments, retorts. By 1940: nothing.

In the end, it was Pearl Harbor, not the sympathy of prominent Jews, that drove the United States and Great Britain to support China. The ensuing Allied-backed counteroffensive vanquished Japan, but it left the KMT severely depleted. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) seized on this weakness to relaunch its own campaign to control the country. In 1949, Mao Zedong established a new government in Beijing while Sun Ke and his comrades fled to Taiwan.

They have operated in exile from Taipei ever since.

A man walks past the Ohel Rachel Synagogue, which was built in 1920, in Shanghai on Feb. 9, 2007. Eugene Hoshiko/AP

Little unites today’s CCP with the KMT of the 1930s. Chinese leader Xi Jinping will quote Marx and Lenin a million times before admitting even a nickel of intellectual debt to the KMT. But Beijing’s approach to the Israel-Hamas war, with its faith in the power of messaging, would be all too familiar to Sun Ke and his colleagues.

When Israel first invaded Gaza, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said that China would always support “the legitimate aspirations of the Arab and Islamic world.” After Iran launched a series of attacks against Israel in April, Wang parroted Tehran’s account, while characterizing the strikes as an act of self-defense. Beijing’s statements have not labeled Hamas as a terrorist group, an omission that is sure to strain China’s once-blossoming trade relationship with Israel. Yet behind closed doors, Chinese diplomats keep trying to convince their Israeli counterparts that all this is just talk and should not be misconstrued as actual Chinese hostility toward Israel.

If China’s response to the Israel-Hamas war seems passive or incoherent or amateurish, it is helpful to remember how little experience Beijing has engaging with the political thicket that Zionism has always represented. Seldom in its history has China taken a position on the issue of a Jewish state. When it attempted to establish a Jewish settlement in 1939, it acted on the belief that Washington’s loyalty to the Jewish people was an unchanging and exploitable fact.

When China overestimated the influence of Jewish interests in U.S. politics during World War II, it wasted valuable time and a few stacks of paper. But with the Chinese government now trying to position itself as the world’s alternative superpower, misreading the politics of Zionism could be far more costly.

Harry Saunders is a graduate of Princeton University, where he studied history. He spent one year living in Yunnan province.

Join the Conversation

Commenting on this and other recent articles is just one benefit of a Foreign Policy subscription.

Already a subscriber? Log In .

Subscribe Subscribe

View Comments

Join the conversation on this and other recent Foreign Policy articles when you subscribe now.

Not your account? Log out

Please follow our comment guidelines , stay on topic, and be civil, courteous, and respectful of others’ beliefs.

Change your username:

I agree to abide by FP’s comment guidelines . (Required)

Confirm your username to get started.

The default username below has been generated using the first name and last initial on your FP subscriber account. Usernames may be updated at any time and must not contain inappropriate or offensive language.

More from Foreign Policy

What produced the china miracle.

A powerful new book challenges conventional wisdom about the role of the state in Beijing’s rise.

Why Realists Oppose the War in Gaza

If you’re surprised by the movement’s position, you never really understood it.

Consulting Firms Have Stumbled Into a Geopolitical Minefield

The era of free-flowing information is over.

The Man Who Would Help Trump Upend the Global Economy

As a potential U.S. Treasury secretary, Robert Lighthizer has more than trade policy to revolutionize.

Now Is Not the Time to Negotiate With Putin

China is trying to remake uyghur kitchens, mexico’s next leader has an energy problem, why is the world ignoring a looming genocide in sudan, the u.s. needs a new purpose in the middle east, europe’s green moment is over, why did america stumble into a trap in iraq, no, it’s not too late to save the planet.

FP’s flagship evening newsletter guiding you through the most important world stories of the day, written by Alexandra Sharp . Delivered weekdays.

Postmedia Announces the Sale of the Winnipeg Sun, The Graphic Leader, and Kenora Miner & News to the Klein Group

May 27, 2024 (TORONTO) – Postmedia Network Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Postmedia Network Canada Corp. (“Postmedia” or the “Company”) today announced a definitive agreement to sell the Winnipeg Sun, The Graphic Leader and Kenora Miner & News to The Klein Group Ltd. (the “Klein Group”).

“We are pleased to have reached an agreement with a local group that will continue Postmedia’s long tradition of providing trusted and valuable journalism in these important markets,” said Andrew MacLeod, President and CEO of Postmedia. “Our teams in Winnipeg, Portage and Kenora produce quality work that is critically important to their communities, and we’re thrilled that will continue under the new ownership group. Each paper’s local team will continue to be supported by the voices and opinions from Postmedia that Canadians rely on for information, diverse perspectives, and unique insights into national and international developments.”

Employees at each of the newspapers are expected to continue in their role, with no job losses anticipated. Non-unionized employees will be offered their same job with the Klein Group, while unionized employees will retain their current terms as presently contracted.

Included in the transaction is Postmedia’s Winnipeg Press Commercial Print division, all associated digital properties, contracts and other related parts of the businesses.

“In an age where information is abundant and easily accessible, the role of local journalism is more crucial today than ever before,” said Kevin Klein, President and CEO of the Klein Group. “We are honoured to take ownership of these local newspapers and are dedicated to preserving their legacy of providing trusted, community-focused news. Our continued relationship with Postmedia will ensure that our readers benefit from both local insights and national perspectives, reaffirming our commitment to delivering comprehensive and relevant news coverage.”

The deal is scheduled to close on or about June 1, 2024 at 12:01 a.m., subject to the satisfaction or waiver of certain conditions, including the entering into of certain ancillary agreements.

About Postmedia Network Canada Corp.

Postmedia Network Canada Corp. (TSX:PNC.A, PNC.B) is the holding company that owns Postmedia Network Inc., a Canadian newsmedia company representing more than 130 brands across multiple print, online, and mobile platforms. Award-winning journalists and innovative product development teams bring engaging content to millions of people every week whenever and wherever they want it. This exceptional content, reach and scope offers advertisers and marketers compelling solutions to effectively reach target audiences Our expertise in home delivery and expanding distribution network powers Postmedia Parcel Services. For more information, visit www.postmedia.com , www.postmediasolutions.com and www.postmediaparcelservices.com .

About the Klein Group

The Klein Group is a Manitoba-based company dedicated to providing local, factual, and unbiased news across multiple platforms, including print, online, and mobile. Owned entirely by Manitobans, the Klein Group believes that local news plays a vital role in highlighting issues that directly impact our daily lives, from municipal governance to community events, fostering a sense of connection and accountability. By ensuring its news is factual and unbiased, the Klein Group upholds the principles of journalistic integrity, helping its audience navigate complex social, political, and economic landscapes with clarity and confidence. This commitment to truth and transparency not only strengthens our democracy but also promotes a more informed and cohesive society. Additionally, through partnerships with leading businesses, the Klein Group offers a full suite of tools to businesses across Manitoba, with extensive digital and print experience, which includes creating exceptional content to market any business or product, targeted reach, and innovative marketing solutions to effectively reach target audiences in Manitoba and around the globe.

Forward-Looking Information

This news release may include information that is “forward-looking information” under applicable Canadian securities laws. The Company has tried, where possible, to identify such information and statements by using words such as “believe,” “expect,” “intend,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “may,” “will,” “could,” “would,” “should”, “scheduled” and similar expressions and derivations thereof in connection with any discussion of future events, trends or prospects or future operating or financial performance. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the closing of the transaction with the Klein Group, the offering of employment and the employment of non-unionized and unionized employees by the Klein Group. By their nature, forward-looking information and statements involve risks and uncertainties because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that may or may not occur in the future. These risks and uncertainties include, among others: the possibility that the proposed transaction will not close (including, without limitation, as a result of the failure to satisfy applicable closing conditions). For a complete list of our risk factors please refer to the section entitled “Risk Factors” contained in our annual management’s discussion and analysis for the years ended August 31, 2023 and 2022. Although the Company bases such information and statements on assumptions believed to be reasonable when made, they are not guarantees of future performance and actual results of operations, financial condition and liquidity, and developments in the industry in which the Company operates, may differ materially from any such information and statements in this press release. Given these risks and uncertainties, undue reliance should not be placed on any forward-looking information or forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of such information or statements. Other than as required by law, the Company does not undertake, and specifically declines, any obligation to update such information or statements or to publicly announce the results of any revisions to any such information or statements.

For more information:

Postmedia Postmedia Communications [email protected]

Klein Group Klein Group Communications [email protected]

Reimplementation of FGVC Papers

This week I am working on reimplementing experiments in the field of fine-grained visual classification.The data set used for this study is CUB-200-2011, a fine-grained bird classification dataset.

TransFG: Due to GPU limitations, the training steps were not completed. However, I successfully migrated the workflow to Google Colab and optimized the data loading steps, reducing the time from 40 minutes to 2 minutes.

SAC: Learned how to set up a virtual environment to incorporate TensorFlow 1.45 and Python 3.7, but encountered issues on a MacBook due to hardware limitations.

what is the sun essay

IMAGES

VIDEO

COMMENTS

Our Sun: Facts

Potential for Life

Size and Distance

Orbit and Rotation

Key Sun Features

Magnetosphere

Quick Facts

Discover More Topics From NASA

Products & Resources

Colleges & Courses

Predictors & E-Books

Predictors & Articles

Top Courses & Careers

Quick Links

Diploma Colleges

Upcoming Events

Other Exams

Top Countries

Student Visas

Engineering Preparation

Medical Preparation

Online Courses

Top Streams

Specializations

Top Providers

Essay On Sun - 100, 200, 500 Words

100 Words Essay on Sun

Applications for Admissions are open.

Aakash iACST Scholarship Test 2024

ALLEN Digital Scholarship Admission Test (ADSAT)

JEE Main Important Physics formulas

PW JEE Coaching

PW NEET Coaching

JEE Main Important Chemistry formulas

Download Careers360 App's

We Appeared in

Essay on Sun

100 Words Essay on Sun

Formation and Structure

Importance of the Sun

250 Words Essay on Sun

Composition and Structure

Energy Production

The Sun’s Influence on Earth

The Sun: A Source of Inspiration

500 Words Essay on Sun

The Sun’s Composition and Structure

The Sun’s Role in the Solar System

Solar Activity and Its Effects on Earth

The Sun in Human Culture and Science

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Essay On The Sun For Children – 10 Lines, Short And Long Essay

Key Points To Remember When Writing Essay On Sun For Lower Primary Classes

What Is The Sun?

What Is The Sun Made Of?

The Importance Of The Sun

1. What Are The Major Benefits Of Sunlight?

2. What Vitamins do We Get From Sun?

3. Is Life Possible Without The Sun?

Low-Stimulation Shows To Keep Your Kid Busy (For When You Need A Break!)

Most Popular

FirstCry Intelli Education is an Early Learning brand, with products and services designed by educators with decades of experience, to equip children with skills that will help them succeed in the world of tomorrow.

The FirstCry Intellikit `Learn With Stories` kits for ages 2-6 brings home classic children`s stories, as well as fun activities, specially created by our Early Learning Educators.

For children 6 years and up, explore a world of STEAM learning, while engaging in project-based play to keep growing minds busy!

Build a love for reading through engaging book sets and get the latest in brain-boosting toys, recommended by the educators at FirstCry Intellitots.

Our Comprehensive 2-year Baby Brain Development Program brings to you doctor-approved toys for your baby`s developing brain.

Our Preschool Chain offers the best in education across India, for children ages 2 and up.

Welcome to the world of Intelli!

Welcome to the world of intelli!

THANK YOU!!!

Solar System Essay for Students and Children

Customize your course in 30 seconds

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Download the App

Solar Energy

Loading ...

Media Credits

Illustrator

User Permissions

Interactives