THE SUN IS ABOUT TO LOSE ITS MEMORY

THE SUN IS ABOUT TO LOSE ITS MEMORY: That’s the surprising conclusion of a new study by researchers at the University of Oulu in Finland. The team examined 180 years of the aa index (a record of geomagnetic activity stretching back to 1844) and found that after odd-numbered solar cycles, the sun forgets what happened in the past.

We’re approaching such a moment now, as Solar Cycle 25 descends from its peak.

Their research begins with the little-known “Gnevyshev-Ohl rule.” Discovered in 1948, this rule says that solar cycles come in pairs, with the odd-numbered half stronger than the even. Take a look at this historical plot of sunspot numbers:

Once you notice the Gnevyshev-Ohl rule, you can’t unsee it. With only one exception in the past 180 years (Solar Cycles 22-23), odd cycles are always stronger than evens. The current pair, Cycles 24-25, definitely follow the rule.

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Locus forthcoming books

Locus forthcoming books

SEPTEMBER 2026

  • K. ANCRUM • Adam • Mine., HarperCollins, Sep 2026 (ya, h, hc, eb)
  • GUY ASTIC & FRANK LAFOND • The Art and Craft of Stephen King • Hachette/Black Dog & Leventhal, Sep 2026 (nf, hc)
  • LEIGH BARDUGO • Dead Beat • Orion UK/Gollancz, Sep 2026 (h, hc, eb)
  • LEIGH BARDUGO • Dead Beat • Macmillan/Flatiron, Sep 2026 (h, hc, eb)
  • KALYNN BAYRON • Tell the Ghosts I’m Gone • Bloomsbury USA, Sep 2026 (ya, v, hc, eb)
  • KAMILAH COLE • Wicked Endeavors • Little, Brown, Sep 2026 (ya, hc, eb)
  • ELLEN DATLOW, ED. • All Hallows Eve • Titan Books UK, Sep 2026 (oa, hc, eb)
  • TANANARIVE DUE • Mazywood • Simon & Schuster/ Saga Press, Sep 2026 (h, hc, eb)
  • TANANARIVE DUE • Mazywood • Titan Books UK, Sep 2026 (h, hc, eb)
  • ZOÉ DUHAIME • The Lost Spectacular • Kensington/Erewhon, Sep 2026 (hc, eb)
  • ZOÉ DUHAIME • The Lost Spectacular • Rebellion/ Solaris UK, Sep 2026 (hc, eb)
  • JESSICA DAY GEORGE • Holidays at the Castle • Bloomsbury USA, Sep 2026 (ya, tp)
  • CHRISTOPHER GOLDEN • Carry Me to My Grave • Titan Books UK, Sep 2026 (1st US, h, tp, eb)
  • FRANCES HARDINGE • Traitors’ Nest • Abrams/Amulet, Sep 2026 (1st US, ya, art, hc, eb)
  • KATE HEARTFIELD • The Swordmaster • Rebellion/Solaris UK, Sep 2026 (tp, eb)
  • JAMES ISLINGTON • Scion • Simon & Schuster/Saga Press, Sep 2026 (hc, eb)
  • AI JIANG • An Empire in the Clouds • Titan Books UK, Sep 2026 (hc, eb)
  • ALMA KATSU • Incarnate • Penguin Random House/Putnam, Sep 2026 (h, hc, eb)
  • T. KINGFISHER • Baldur’s Gate3: Astarion • Penguin Random House/Random House Worlds, Sep 2026 (x, hc, eb)
  • KEN LIU • The Passing of the Dragon and Other Stories • Simon & Schuster/ Saga Press, Sep 2026 (c, hc, eb)
  • JOSH MALERMAN • Pictures of You • Macmillan/Tor Nightfire UK, Sep 2026 (h, hc, eb)
  • JOSH MALERMAN • Pictures of You • Penguin Random House/Del Rey, Sep 2026 (h, hc, eb)
  • FREYA MARSKE • Bodies of Magic • Macmillan/Tor Bramble UK, Sep 2026 (hc, eb)
  • FREYA MARSKE • Bodies of Magic • Tor/Bramble, Sep 2026 (hc, eb)
  • A. LEE MARTINEZ • Unbearable • Baen, Sep 2026 (hc, eb)
  • SEANAN MCGUIRE • A Divided Duty • Tor, Sep 2026 (hc, eb)
  • CHINA MIÉVILLE • The Rouse • Penguin Random House/Del Rey, Sep 2026 (hc, eb)
  • CHINA MIÉVILLE • The Rouse • Macmillan UK/Picador, Sep 2026 (hc, eb)
  • PREMEE MOHAMED • Wickhills • Tor, Sep 2026 (hc, eb)
  • LOUISA MORGAN • The Faerie Handmaid • Orbit US/ Redhook, Sep 2026 (tp, eb)
  • GARTH NIX • Massif • Harper Voyager US, Sep 2026 (hc, eb)
  • GARTH NIX • Massif • Orion UK/Gollancz, Sep 2026 (hc, eb)
  • AVA REID • Winterveil • HarperCollins, Sep 2026 (ya, hc, eb)
  • JONATHAN STRAHAN, ED. • Revolution in the Heart • Titan Books UK, Sep 2026 (oa, hc, eb)
  • DAVAUN SANDERS, ED. • Forged in FIYAH • Tordotcom, Sep 2026 (an, tp, eb)
  • SHAUN TAN • Hometown • Levine Querido, Sep 2026 (gn, ya, art, hc, eb)
  • ADRIAN TCHAIKOVSKY • Engines of Reason • Macmillan/Tor UK, Sep 2026 (na, eb)
  • ADRIAN TCHAIKOVSKY • Engines of Reason • Tordotcom, Sep 2026 (na, hc, eb)
  • PETER WATTS • Fold Catastrophes • Tachyon Publications, Sep 2026 (c, tp, eb)

OCTOBER 2026