The sun has gone "completely blank" for the second time this month suggesting that Earth could be heading for a mini ICE AGE.

 

本月已经第二次出现太阳黑子“完全消失”，这预示着地球可能迎来迷你冰期。

 

Earlier this month, there were no sunspots on the massive star's surface for four days - something which hadn't happened since 2011. This has since happened again.

 

A lack of sun spots is totally normal, but it does hint that the sun is heading for its next "solar minimum phase".

 

The next solar minimum phase is expected to take place in 2019 or 2020, says meteorologist Paul Dorian of Vencore Weather, who expects to see an increasing number of spotless days over the next few years.

 

The last time the sun saw a such a long phase with no sunspots, it ushered¹ in what scientists refer to as a the 'Maunder Minimum' back in 1645.

 

This caused temperatures to plunge² dramatically, and even resulted in the Thames freezing over.

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