NYU Abu Dhabi researchers find mysterious new set of waves in Sun
Researchers from NYU Abu Dhabi’s (NYUAD) Centre for Space Science have discovered a new set of waves in the Sun that, unexpectedly, appear to travel much faster than predicted by theory.
In the study, ‘Discovery of high-frequency-retrograde vorticity waves in the Sun’, published in the journal Nature Astronomy, the researchers, led by Research Associate Chris S. Hanson, detailed how they analysed 25 years of space and ground-based data to detect these waves. The high-frequency retrograde (HFR) waves, which move in the opposite direction of the Sun’s rotation, appear as a pattern of vortices (swirling motions) on the surface of the Sun and move at three times the speed established by current theory.
The interior of the Sun and stars cannot be imaged by conventional astronomy (e.g. optical, x-ray etc.), and scientists rely on interpreting the surface signatures of a variety of waves to image the interiors. These new HFR waves may yet be an important puzzle piece in our understanding of stars.
Complex interactions between other well known waves and magnetism, gravity or convection could drive the HFR waves at this speed. “If the HFR waves could be attributed to any of these three processes, then the finding would have answered some open questions we still have about the Sun,” said Hanson. “However, these new waves don’t appear to be a result of these processes, and that’s exciting because it leads to a whole new set of questions.”
This research was conducted within NYUAD’s Centre for Space Science in collaboration with the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) and New York University, using NYUAD and TIFR’s computational resources. By studying the Sun’s interior dynamics – through the use of waves – scientists can better appreciate the Sun’s potential impact on the Earth and other planets in our solar system.
“The very existence of HFR modes and their origin is a true mystery and may allude to exciting physics at play,” said Shravan Hanasoge, a co-author of the paper. “It has the potential to shed insight on the otherwise unobservable interior of the Sun.”
Events
Magnus Carlsen, Praggnanandhaa lead 24 chess stars at $650,000 Total Chess Tournament in Budapest
World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen headlines a star-studded field of 24 elite players assembling in Budapest for the inaugural Total Chess World Championship Tour Pilot, a landmark tournament designed to introduce a new format to professional chess.
With a total prize fund of $650,000, the competition will bring together some of the biggest names in international chess to test their skills across Fast Classical, Rapid and Blitz formats.
Carlsen, widely regarded as one of the greatest chess players of all time, arrived in the Hungarian capital late Monday evening. The Norwegian superstar has maintained the world No. 1 position for 15 consecutive years, making his participation one of the major highlights of the tournament.
The Budapest Pilot marks an important step in the development of the Total Chess World Championship Tour, which aims to redefine elite chess through a combination of competitive innovation, global broadcasting and enhanced fan engagement.
Magnus Carlsen headlines 24-player chess field
The tournament features an exceptional lineup of international grandmasters, established champions and emerging chess talents, including two leading female players.
According to the recent FIDE standard ratings provided by the organisers, the confirmed participants include:
- Magnus Carlsen (Norway) – World No. 1
- Fabiano Caruana (United States) – World No. 3
- Nodirbek Abdusattorov (Uzbekistan) – World No. 5
- Wesley So (United States) – World No. 6
- R Praggnanandhaa (India) – World No. 7
- Vincent Keymer (Germany) – World No. 9
- Alireza Firouzja (France) – World No. 10
- Anish Giri (Netherlands) – World No. 11
- Arjun Erigaisi (India) – World No. 12
- Jan-Krzysztof Duda (Poland) – World No. 13
- Liem Le (Vietnam) – World No. 16
- Levon Aronian (United States) – World No. 20
- Ian Nepomniachtchi (FIDE) – World No. 22
- Richard Rapport (Hungary) – World No. 23
- Jorden van Foreest (Netherlands) – World No. 24
- Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (Azerbaijan) – World No. 27
- Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (France) – World No. 28
- Hans Moke Niemann (United States) – World No. 32
- Haik M. Martirosyan (Armenia) – World No. 48
- Vladislav Artemiev (FIDE) – World No. 66
- Abhimanyu Mishra (United States) – World No. 76
- Andrew Hong (United States) – World No. 134
- Bibisara Assaubayeva (Kazakhstan) – Women’s World No. 7
- Vaishali Rameshbabu (India) – Women’s World No. 24
India will have a strong presence in Budapest, with R Praggnanandhaa, Arjun Erigaisi and Vaishali Rameshbabu representing the country’s growing influence in international chess.
The participation of established stars and emerging talents makes the tournament one of the notable gatherings in the international chess calendar.
New championship format
Beyond the prize money and star power, the Budapest Pilot is designed to test a new competitive format that identifies the most complete chess player across three major disciplines: Fast Classical, Rapid and Blitz.
The organisers aim to create a more dynamic and engaging championship by combining different time controls into a single competition.
The initiative also seeks to modernise how professional chess is presented and consumed, bringing fans closer to the players, their strategies and the drama unfolding during matches.
How the tour format works
The pilot tournament will feature 24 players divided into four groups of six competitors.
Group stage
Each group will follow a double round-robin format over five days, with every player competing in 10 Fast Classical games.
The time control will be 45 minutes per player with a 30-second increment per move.
The scoring system awards:
- Three points for a win.
- One point for a draw.
- Zero points for a loss.
A nine-round Blitz Swiss tournament conducted before the main competition will determine the tie-break rankings.
Knockout stage
Following the group stage, players will advance into knockout brackets according to their finishing positions.
Each knockout match will take place over two days and feature three chess disciplines:
- Four Blitz games with a 3+2 time control.
- Two Rapid games with a 15+10 time control.
- One Fast Classical game with a 45+30 time control.
The scoring system uses weighted points to reward performance across the different formats, with greater emphasis on longer time controls.
If a knockout match remains tied, an Armageddon game will determine the winner.
Road to Grand Final
The four highest-ranked players across the Tour will qualify for the Grand Final.
The final stage will feature semifinals and a championship match to determine the inaugural FIDE World Combined Champion.
The format is designed to reward consistency, versatility and excellence across all three disciplines rather than performance in just one time control.
Global broadcast partnerships
The Budapest Pilot is also aiming to reach a worldwide audience through an extensive network of international television and digital broadcasting partners.
DAZN will serve as the global broadcast partner, while India’s NDTV will bring the tournament to Indian audiences through its television network and digital platforms, including YouTube.
Additional coverage will be available through Chess.com, ChessBase India, Norway’s TV 2 and the Norway Chess YouTube channel.
The enhanced broadcast experience will feature professional production, expert commentary, live insights and detailed post-match studio analysis.
According to the organisers, the tournament’s distribution network is expected to make the competition accessible across more than 200 countries and territories.
New chapter for professional chess
With 24 elite players, a $650,000 prize fund and an innovative multi-format competition structure, the Total Chess World Championship Tour Pilot represents an ambitious attempt to reshape the future of professional chess.
The tournament brings together some of the world’s strongest players while exploring new ways to improve the competitive experience and expand the sport’s global appeal.
For Magnus Carlsen, Praggnanandhaa, Arjun Erigaisi and the other participants, Budapest offers an opportunity to compete for the inaugural title while becoming part of a new chapter in chess history.
The bigger question is whether the combination of Fast Classical, Rapid and Blitz can establish a new standard for elite chess competitions.
Twenty-four elite players. Three chess disciplines. $650,000 in prize money. The journey towards a new world championship begins in Budapest.
Total Chess is a global championship platform developed by Norway Chess and approved by FIDE, with the objective of redefining elite competitive chess through a unified championship format.
Events
Sharjah Book Fair 2026: Thousands of UAE students explore books, creativity and interactive learning
Magnus Carlsen, Praggnanandhaa lead 24 chess stars at $650,000 Total Chess Tournament in Budapest
Sharjah Book Fair 2026: Thousands of UAE students explore books, creativity and interactive learning
