A New Kind of Explosion on the Sun

Scientists have observed a new type of magnetic explosion on the sun called forced magnetic reconnection, triggered by solar eruptions. This discovery could help explain why the sun's corona is much hotter than its inner layers. Using NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory, scientists observed plasma heated to 6 million degrees and a prominence interacting with magnetic field lines, causing them to reconnect. This event suggests that forced reconnection may contribute to local heating of the corona. Researchers aim to find more such events to understand their mechanics and frequency.

Describe the significance of the prominence observed during the forced reconnection event.

What implications does the discovery of forced reconnection have for understanding the heating of the corona?