Researchers in Japan have developed a high-precision method to detect mid-sized solar storms by analyzing carbon-14 levels in 800-year-old buried trees. This technique allows scientists to identify solar proton events that were previously invisible to older measurement tools. By mapping these radioactive carbon spikes, the team reconstructed solar cycles from the 13th century. This data helps improve risk planning for modern space missions and provides a deeper understanding of how solar activity affects Earth's atmosphere over long periods.
