NASA reports that a recent lull in the sun’s activity did not prevent the Earth from absorbing more solar energy than could escape back into space. This means that climate change is mainly caused by human activity–not the sun, as some people would like to think.

This imbalance (more energy coming in than leaving) is what drives global warming, and because it occurred during a period when the sun was emitting comparatively low levels of energy, it means we have to clean up our act and curb greenhouse gases. read more