... The fact that the Sun is a gas, however, lets different regions pass by one another fluidly. ... This differential rotation has interesting ramifications for the Sun's magnetic field. ... This bizarre distortion of the magnetic field results in active phenomena on the surface of the Sun. ... Magnetic instabilities in the solar field cause short, violent ejections of gas called solar flares-the most explosive events on the Sun. ... The Sun can also be viewed safely through special types of filters. ...