Ever feel like the sun is far away? Right now, no matter where you are or what time it is, trillions of particles are passing through your body that were in the center of the sun less than ten minutes ago.

The sun’s source of energy is in its core. Immense pressure from gravity results in extreme temperatures, causing particles to speed up and slam into each other. When the right combinations of particles collide with enough force they fuse together forming new atoms. The sun is a massive particle smasher working 24/7. This process releases energy in different forms. The one everyone knows best is photons, a.k.a. light. Another is a particle we cannot see, called a neutrino.

Read Justin’s full article in the Metro and see his latest chalk animation:

http://www.metro.us/boston/national/article/1154660–race-to-space-the-true-story-of-today-s-sunlight