Astronomers have taken the best-ever photos of the Sun. The researchers used a solar telescope in Hawaii. They took very detailed images of the Sun's surface. These show lots of details about the solar surface. The scientists pointed out hundreds of areas of activity that look like twisters of fire. These might explain a lot about the Sun's energy. They could help us know more about solar flares. An astronomer was excited about the photos. He called the Sun a "unique laboratory". He said: "It can help us understand some very basic laws of physics."

The new images are the closest ever that scientists have zoomed in on the Sun. The photographs show a 5,000-km-wide area of the Sun. Scientists are interested in photos of the borders between the dark and bright regions of the Sun. This is where huge spirals of fire are made. It happens when two fluids move at different speeds and meet. This causes a build-up of energy. Similar energy is created with ocean water and waves. The astronomer said enough energy will release a solar flare. He said the photos could help us to "figure out and eventually predict space weather".