As science unlocks the secrets of the Sun, we should appreciate its role in our lives more than ever. Lucie is a Professor of Physics and a Royal Society University Research Fellow based at the Mullard Space Science Laboratory, UCL’s Department of Space and Climate Physics and studies activity in the atmosphere of our nearest star, the Sun. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at ted.com/tedx