Four billion years ago, the young Sun may have unleashed superflares every few days—outbursts that Sun-like stars produce only about once a century today. The proton storms they sent into Earth’s atmosphere could have forged nitrous oxide, helping keep the planet warm, and hydrogen cyanide, a crucial feedstock for the chemistry that preceded life.

A 2026 proton-irradiation experiment adds laboratory support to the idea that the active young Sun helped warm early Earth while driving nitrogen chemistry relevant to life's origins. The post Four billion years ago, the young Sun may have unleashed superflares every few days—outbursts that Sun-like stars produce only about once a century today. The proton storms they sent into Earth’s atmosphere…