NASA SDO - Flitting Plasma

While coiled loops of plasma swayed and waved in profile above the Sun's surface, a blob of darker (i.e., cooler) plasma rose up, twisted and turned, then finally split part along a roller-coaster path (August 27-28, 2013).

In the meantime, the active region in the foreground put on an impressive show of its own with loops and flashes as magnetic forces struggled with each other.

The video clip, which covered about 36 hours, was taken in extreme ultraviolet light.

Credit: NASA Solar Dynamics Observatory