No, the Sun is not Shutting Down and We're Not Going to Freeze

Because tabloids mean it has to be said.

The sun is now entering a solar minimum (we've known one was due for years). In fact, it's been in one for a year.

Basically, the sun has weather, which we call sun spots. A solar minimum is a quiet period when the sun has less weather, which results in less energy.

The downside is it tends to make the weather a little cooler (but not to new Ice Age degrees!). The upside is fewer solar flares to disrupt electronics.

This is a particularly deep solar minimum, but it should end in a few months. So don't listen to anyone who says anything stupid about it, please.