New records and shifts: space probe’s close call with the sun and solar power’s big moment

NASA’s Parker Solar Probe just zipped past the sun for the 28th time, matching its own speed and distance records set earlier this year. The spacecraft hit 430, 000 miles per hour and came within 3. 8 million miles of the sun’s surface—close enough for its heat shield to reach 1, 700 degrees Fahrenheit. Inside, the probe stays cool thanks to special blankets that keep everything at a steady temperature. Scientists say this stability proves the shield isn’t wearing out, which is a big deal after eight years of extreme conditions.The probe’s mission is to watch how the sun changes over time. When it launched in 2018, it arrived during a quiet phase called solar minimum. Now, it’s seen the sun reach solar maximum, a period of high activity with more sunspots, flares, and explosions of plasma. This cycle repeats every 11 years, and Parker has been watching it all unfold, collecting data that could help us predict space weather better. Meanwhile, on Earth, solar power has quietly overtaken coal in electricity generation for the first time. In May 2026, solar provided 12. 8 percent of U. S. power, while coal dropped to 12. 2 percent. Coal’s decline isn’t new—its share has nearly halved in five years—but this crossover shows how fast clean energy is growing. Nuclear and gas still lead, but solar is catching up fast, proving that even without strong government support, renewables are gaining ground.