Fact Check: "Human beings have walked on the sun"
What We Know
The claim that "human beings have walked on the sun" is not supported by any scientific evidence or credible reports. According to NASA's Parker Solar Probe mission, the closest any human-made object has come to the sun is through this spacecraft, which has flown through the sun's upper atmosphere, known as the corona. This mission marks a significant milestone in solar science, but it does not involve human travel to the sun.
The sun is a massive star composed of hot plasma, with surface temperatures around 5,500 degrees Celsius (9,932 degrees Fahrenheit) and core temperatures reaching approximately 15 million degrees Celsius (27 million degrees Fahrenheit). The extreme heat and radiation make it impossible for humans to physically visit or walk on the sun. As explained in scientific discussions, the technological challenges and safety concerns for human travel to the sun are insurmountable with current technology.
Analysis
The claim lacks any credible scientific backing. The NASA Parker Solar Probe is the only mission that has come close to the sun, and it was an unmanned spacecraft designed to withstand extreme conditions. The probe's mission is to study the sun's outer atmosphere and its solar wind, not to facilitate human travel.
The sources discussing human evolution and space exploration, such as Scientific American and Penn State research, do not mention any possibility of humans traveling to or walking on the sun. These sources focus on the evolution of human life on Earth and the potential for intelligent life elsewhere in the universe, which are unrelated to the claim.
Furthermore, the claim contradicts basic scientific understanding of the sun's environment. The sun's intense heat, radiation, and lack of a solid surface make it an inhospitable place for human life. As noted in scientific analyses, the idea of humans walking on the sun remains a distant and unattainable dream due to these extreme conditions.
Conclusion
The claim that "human beings have walked on the sun" is False. There is no scientific evidence or credible report supporting this claim. Human technology has not advanced to a point where travel to the sun is feasible, and the sun's extreme conditions make such a journey impossible. The closest interaction with the sun has been achieved through unmanned spacecraft, such as NASA's Parker Solar Probe, which has provided valuable data about the sun's atmosphere but does not involve human travel.
Sources
- NASA Enters the Solar Atmosphere for the First Time
- Does planetary evolution favor human-like life? Study ups odds we're not alone
- NASA's Parker Solar Probe Sheds New Light on the Sun
- Is it possible that humans can go to the Sun? This is what science says
- Humans just 'touched' the sun for the first time using a spacecraft
- Surprising Genetic Evidence Shows Human Evolution