Final answer:
Recent advances in the study of star behavior below their surfaces include helioseismology, which tracks star vibrations, and solar neutrino analysis, which examines the neutrinos produced by nuclear fusion in the Sun's core. These methods have enhanced our understanding of the sun's internal structure and processes.
Step-by-step explanation:
Astronomers have recently utilized two innovative methods to gain new insights into the behavior of stars beneath their surfaces, such as the collapse of the inner core of a star undergoing a supernova explosion or observing the interior of the Sun. The first method, known as helioseismology, involves analyzing the vibrations caused by the sun's pulsations to study its structure, much like seismologists study Earth's interior using earthquake waves. The second method tracks the solar neutrinos emitted during the nuclear fusion in the Sun's core, providing valuable information about the inner processes of our star.
Helioseismology can reveal the composition and dynamics of the Sun's interior, including the convection zone and even active regions on the Sun's far side. It also enhances predictions of solar storms. On the other hand, solar neutrino studies have confirmed predictions about the number of neutrinos the Sun produces and have even provided evidence that neutrinos have mass, as they seem to change types on their journey to Earth.