Daily Bulletin

Join a seminar about the collapse of the solar dynamo

April 20, 2026

On Wednesday, May 6 from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm MT, join the High Altitude Observatory (HAO) at NSF NCAR for a colloquium. The talk is entitled “Stellar Evidence Of A Collapsing Solar Dynamo.”

Travis Metcalfe will present a reanalysis of stellar rotation using direct magnetic field measurements and X-ray mass-loss rates. Dr. Metcalfe will demonstrate how wind braking torque decreases abruptly as stars approach a critical Rossby number, suggesting the Sun is currently transitioning into a suppressed magnetic state.

This hybrid event is held in person at Center Green 1, room 3131, and virtually via Google Meet. No registration is required for this session.

Dr. Metcalfe currently serves as a Senior Research Scientist and Executive Director at the Center for Solar-Stellar Connections at the White Dwarf Research Corporation (WDRC). This research provides a new physical basis for understanding the limitations of gyrochronology in older stars.

For more information, see the event page or contact organizers.

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This material is based upon work supported by the National Center for Atmospheric Research, a major facility sponsored by National Science Foundation and managed by the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research. Any opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.