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Heliobiology — the study of how solar and geomagnetic activity interacts with biological systems — is a relatively young field, with most of its peer-reviewed literature emerging over the past two decades. Hundreds of studies have now examined potential associations between space weather and human physiology, with cardiovascular responses, autonomic nervous system function, and brain activity receiving the most research attention.
This library collects published work across the main topic areas. It is intended as a navigable reference, not a claims summary. The studies listed here vary widely in design, sample size, and methodology — readers are encouraged to engage with the primary sources directly and to review the Solar & Geophysical overview and topic explainers before the citation lists for background context.
Contents
1. Heliobiological Reviews
Review articles offer the broadest entry point into the literature. Start here if you are new to the field.
Khabarova, O., & Dimitrova, S. (2009). On the nature of people’s reaction to space weather and meteorological weather changes. Sun and Geosphere, 4(2), 60–71.
Palmer, S. J., Rycroft, M. J., & Cermack, M. (2006). Solar and geomagnetic activity, extremely low frequency magnetic and electric fields and human health at the Earth’s surface. Surveys in Geophysics, 27(5), 557–595. doi:10.1007/s10712-006-9010-7
Zenchenko, T. A., & Breus, T. K. (2021). The Possible Effect of Space Weather Factors on Various Physiological Systems of the Human Organism. Atmosphere, 12(3), 346. mdpi.com/2073-4433/12/3/346
Nevoit, G., Landauskas, M., McCarty, R., Bumblyte, I. A., Potyazhenko, M., Taletaviciene, G., Jarusevicius, G., & Vainoras, A. (2025). Schumann Resonances and the Human Body: Questions About Interactions, Problems and Prospects. Applied Sciences, 15(1), 449. doi:10.3390/app15010449
2. HRV Studies
Heart Rate Variability (HRV) — a measure of beat-to-beat variation in the heart’s rhythm — is one of the primary autonomic markers used in heliobiology research. For background on HRV measurement and its role in the SolarHealth app, see Heart Rate Variability.
Alabdulgader, A., McCraty, R., Atkinson, M., Dobyns, Y., Vainoras, A., Ragulskis, M., & Stolc, V. (2018). Long-Term Study of Heart Rate Variability Responses to Changes in the Solar and Geomagnetic Environment. Scientific Reports, 8. doi:10.1038/s41598-018-20932-x
Breus, T. K., Baevskii, R. M., & Chernikova, A. G. (2012). Effects of geomagnetic disturbances on humans functional state in space flight.
Chernouss, S., Vinogradov, A., & Vlassova, E. (2001). Geophysical hazard for Human health in the circumpolar Auroral Belt: evidence of a relationship between heart rate variation and electromagnetic disturbances. Natural Hazards, 23(2), 121–135.
Cornélissen, G., Halberg, F., Breus, T., Syutkina, E. V., Baevsky, R., Weydahl, A., … Bakken, E. E. (2002). Non-photic solar associations of heart rate variability and myocardial infarction. Journal of Atmospheric and Solar-Terrestrial Physics, 64(5), 707–720. doi:10.1016/S1364-6826(02)00032-9
Kleiger, R. E., Miller, J. P., Bigger, J. T., Jr., & Moss, A. J. (1987). Decreased heart rate variability and its association with increased mortality after acute myocardial infarction. Am J Cardiol, 59(4), 256–262. doi:10.1016/0002-9149(87)90795-8
McCraty, R., Alabdulgader, A. et al. (2018). The influence of heart coherence on synchronization between human heart rate variability and geomagnetic activity. Journal of Complexity in Health Sciences, 1(2), 42–48.
Qtsuka, K., Cornélissen, G., & Halberg, F. (1997). Circadian rhythmic fractal scaling of heart rate variability in health and coronary artery disease. Clinical Cardiology, 20(7), 631–638.
Sajadieh, A., Nielsen, O. W., Rasmussen, V., Hein, H. O., Abedini, S., & Hansen, J. F. (2004). Increased heart rate and reduced heart-rate variability are associated with subclinical inflammation in middle-aged and elderly subjects with no apparent heart disease. European Heart Journal, 25(5), 363–370. doi:10.1016/j.ehj.2003.12.003
Stein, P. K., Barzilay, J. I., Chaves, P. H. M., Traber, J., Domitrovich, P. P., Heckbert, S. R., & Gottdiener, J. S. (2008). Higher Levels of Inflammation Factors and Greater Insulin Resistance Are Independently Associated with Higher Heart Rate and Lower Heart Rate Variability in Normoglycemic Older Individuals: The Cardiovascular Health Study. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 56(2), 315–321. doi:10.1111/j.1532-5415.2007.01564.x
3. Blood Parameter Studies
Studies examining associations between space weather conditions and blood biomarkers including melatonin metabolites and inflammatory markers. For geomagnetic parameter context, see Solar and Geomagnetic Parameters.
Burch, J. B., Reif, J. S., & Yost, M. G. (1999). Geomagnetic disturbances are associated with reduced nocturnal excretion of a melatonin metabolite in humans. Neuroscience Letters, 266(3), 209–212.
Rapoport, S. I., Malinovskaia, N. K., Oraevskií, V. N., Komarov, F. I., Nosovskií, A. M., & Vetterberg, L. (1997). Effects of disturbances of natural magnetic field of the Earth on melatonin production in patients with coronary heart disease. Klin Med (Mosk), 75(6), 24–26.
Stoupel, E., Abramson, E., Israelevich, P., Sulkes, J., & Harell, D. (2007). Dynamics of serum C-reactive protein (CRP) level and cosmophysical activity. European Journal of Internal Medicine, 18(2), 124–128. doi:10.1016/j.ejim.2006.09.010
Pahlen, T. S. (2025). Association of solar variability and space weather factors with parameters of clinical chemistry, hematology, hemostasis, inflammatory biomarkers and heart rate variability in a middle-aged to elderly population-based cohort.
4. Blood Pressure and Vascular Studies
Observational studies examining possible associations between geomagnetic activity and blood pressure or vascular measures. For space weather context, see Space Weather.
Cabrera, S. E., Mindell, J. S., Toledo, M., Alvo, M., & Ferro, C. J. (2016). Associations of Blood Pressure With Geographical Latitude, Solar Radiation, and Ambient Temperature: Results From the Chilean Health Survey, 2009–2010. American Journal of Epidemiology, 183(11), 1071–1073.
Dimitrova, S., Stoilova, I., & Cholakov, I. (2004). Influence of local geomagnetic storms on arterial blood pressure. Bioelectromagnetics, 25(6), 408–414.
Ghione, S., Mezzasalma, L., Del Seppia, C., & Papi, F. (1998). Do geomagnetic disturbances of solar origin affect arterial blood pressure? Journal of Human Hypertension, 12(11), 749–754. doi:10.1038/sj.jhh.1000708
Gurfinkel, Y. I., Lyubimov, V., & Oraevskii, V. (1995). Influence of geomagnetic disturbances on capillary blood flow of patients with ischemic cardiac disease. Biofizika, 40(4), 800.
Vencloviene, J., Braziene, A., & Dobozinskas, P. (2018). Short-Term Changes in Weather and Space Weather Conditions and Emergency Ambulance Calls for Elevated Arterial Blood Pressure. Atmosphere, 9(3). doi:10.3390/atmos9030114
5. EEG Studies
Electroencephalography studies examining possible correlations between geomagnetic or Schumann resonance activity and brain electrical activity.
Allakhverdiev, A. R., Allakhverdieva, A. A., & Babayev, E. S. (2020). Functional State of the Brain of Elderly Women at Rest and in Mental Stress under Varying Geomagnetic Conditions. Human Physiology, 46(4), 408–416. doi:10.1134/S0362119720020024
Persinger, M. A. (2014). Schumann resonance frequencies found within quantitative electroencephalographic activity: Implications for Earth-brain interactions. International Letters of Chemistry, Physics and Astronomy, 11(1), 24–32.
Saroka, K. S., & Persinger, M. A. (2014). Quantitative evidence for direct effects between earth-ionosphere Schumann Resonances and human cerebral cortical activity. International Letters of Chemistry, Physics and Astronomy, 20.
6. Heart Disease and Stroke Studies
Observational and epidemiological studies examining possible associations between space weather conditions and cardiovascular events. These are association studies; causal relationships are not established. For a discussion of this research in context, see The Heart’s Hidden Intelligence.
Cornélissen, G., Halberg, F., Breus, T., Syutkina, E. V., Baevsky, R., Weydahl, A., … Bakken, E. E. (2002). Non-photic solar associations of heart rate variability and myocardial infarction. Journal of Atmospheric and Solar-Terrestrial Physics, 64(5), 707–720. doi:10.1016/S1364-6826(02)00032-9
Giannaropoulou, E., Papailiou, M., Mavromichalaki, H., Gigolashvili, M., Tvildiani, L., Janashia, K., … Papadima, T. (2014). A study on the various types of arrhythmias in relation to the polarity reversal of the solar magnetic field. Natural Hazards, 70(2), 1575–1587. doi:10.1007/s11069-013-0890-9
Gurfinkel, Y. I., Lyubimov, V., & Oraevskii, V. (1995). Influence of geomagnetic disturbances on capillary blood flow of patients with ischemic cardiac disease. Biofizika, 40(4), 800.
Kiznys, D., Vencloviene, J., & Milvidaite, I. (2020). The associations of geomagnetic storms, fast solar wind, and stream interaction regions with cardiovascular characteristic in patients with acute coronary syndrome. Life Sciences in Space Research, 25, 1–8. doi:10.1016/j.lssr.2020.01.002
Kleimenova, N. G., Kozyreva, O. V., Breus, T. K., & Rapoport, S. I. (2007). Pc1 geomagnetic pulsations as a potential hazard of the myocardial infarction. Journal of Atmospheric and Solar-Terrestrial Physics, 69(14), 1759–1764. doi:10.1016/j.jastp.2006.10.018
Shaposhnikov, D., Revich, B., Gurfinkel, Y., & Naumova, E. (2014). The influence of meteorological and geomagnetic factors on acute myocardial infarction and brain stroke in Moscow, Russia. International Journal of Biometeorology, 58(5), 799–808.
Stoupel, E., Abramson, E., Sulkes, J., Martfel, J., Stein, N., Handelman, M., … Gabbay, U. (1995). Relationship between suicide and myocardial infarction with regard to changing physical environmental conditions. International Journal of Biometeorology, 38(4), 199–203. doi:10.1007/BF01245389
Stoupel, E., Babayev, E., Mustafa, F., Abramson, E., Israelevich, P., & Sulkes, J. (2006). Clinical Cosmobiology — Sudden Cardiac Death and Daily/Monthly Geomagnetic, Cosmic Ray and Solar Activity — the Baku Study (2003–2005). Sun and Geosphere, 1.
Stoupel, E., Babayev, E. S., Abramson, E., & Sulkes, J. (2013). Days of “Zero” level geomagnetic activity accompanied by high neutron activity and dynamics of some medical events — Antipodes to geomagnetic storms. Health, 5(5). doi:10.4236/health.2013.55113
Stoupel, E., Kalediene, R., Petrauskiene, J., Starkuviene, S., Abramson, E., Israelevich, P., & Sulkes, J. (2011). Twenty years study of solar, geomagnetic, cosmic ray activity links with monthly deaths number (n=850304). Journal of Biomedical Science and Engineering, 4(6). doi:10.4236/jbise.2011.46054
Stoupel, E., Martfel, J. N., & Rotenberg, Z. (1994). Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation and stroke (cerebrovascular accidents) in males and females above and below age 65 on days of different geomagnetic activity levels. J Basic Clin Physiol Pharmacol, 5(3–4), 315–329. doi:10.1515/jbcpp.1994.5.3-4.315
Stoupel, E., & Shimshoni, M. (1991). Hospital cardiovascular deaths and total distribution of deaths in 180 consecutive months with different cosmic physical activity: a correlative study (1974–1988). International Journal of Biometeorology, 35(1), 6–9.
Vencloviene, J., Babarskiene, R. M., & Kiznys, D. (2017). A possible association between space weather conditions and the risk of acute coronary syndrome in patients with diabetes and the metabolic syndrome. International Journal of Biometeorology, 61(1), 159–167. doi:10.1007/s00484-016-1200-5
7. Socio-Historical Studies
Observational and exploratory work examining longer-term correlations between solar cycle activity and historical, epidemiological, and social phenomena.
Ertel, S. (1996). Space weather and revolutions: Chizhevsky’s heliobiological claim scrutinized. Studia Psychologica, 38(1–2).
Gumarova, L., Cornélissen, G., Hillman, D., & Halberg, F. (2013). Geographically selective assortment of cycles in pandemics: meta-analysis of data collected by Chizhevsky. Epidemiology and Infection, 141(10), 2173–2184. doi:10.1017/S0950268812002804
Khabarova, O. (2004). Investigation of the Chizhevsky-Velhover effect. Biophysics, 49(1), S60.
Mikulecky, M. (2007). Solar activity, revolutions and cultural prime in the history of mankind. Neuroendocrinology Letters, 28(6), 749–755.
Putilov, A. A. (1992). Unevenness of distribution of historical events throughout an 11-year solar cycle. Biofizika, 37(4), 629–635.
Robotti, C., & Krivelyova, A. (2003). Playing the Field: Geomagnetic Storms and the Stock Market. SSRN Electronic Journal. doi:10.2139/ssrn.375702
Tchijevsky, A. (1930). The correlation between the variation of sun-spot activity and the rise and spreading of epidemics. XIII Congresso Internacional de Hidrologia, Climatologia e Geologia Medicas, Lisboa.
Tchijevsky, A. (1971). Physical factors of the historical process. Cycles, 22, 11–27.
8. Biophysical Mechanisms
Papers addressing possible physical and biological mechanisms through which solar and geomagnetic signals might interact with living systems — from Schumann resonances and circadian rhythms to pineal gland function and cellular electromagnetic responses.
Cherry, N. (2002). Schumann Resonances, a plausible biophysical mechanism for the human health effects of solar/geomagnetic activity. Natural Hazards, 26(3), 279–331.
Dmitreva, I., Khabarova, O., Obridko, V., Ragulskaja, M., & Reznikov, A. (2000). Experimental confirmations of bioeffective effects of magnetic storms. Astronomical and Astrophysical Transactions, 19(1), 67–77.
Grundler, W., Kaiser, F., Keilmann, F., & Walleczek, J. (1992). Mechanisms of electromagnetic interaction with cellular systems. Naturwissenschaften, 79(12), 551–559.
Sahai, A., & Sahai, R. K. (2013). Pineal gland: A structural and functional enigma. Journal of the Anatomical Society of India, 62(2), 170–177.
Wever, R. (1986). Characteristics of circadian rhythms in human functions. Journal of Neural Transmission — Supplementum, 21, 323–373.
9. Mental and General Health Studies
Exploratory studies examining associations between solar and geomagnetic activity and mood, psychiatric admissions, and general health indicators.
Kay, R. W. (1994). Geomagnetic storms: association with incidence of depression as measured by hospital admission. British Journal of Psychiatry, 164(3), 403–409. doi:10.1192/bjp.164.3.403
Mendoza, B., & de la Pena, S. S. (2010). Solar activity and human health at middle and low geomagnetic latitudes in Central America. Advances in Space Research, 46(4), 449–459.
Stoupel, E., Abramson, E., Sulkes, J., Martfel, J., Stein, N., Handelman, M., … Gabbay, U. (1995). Relationship between suicide and myocardial infarction with regard to changing physical environmental conditions. International Journal of Biometeorology, 38(4), 199–203. doi:10.1007/BF01245389
Stoupel, E. G., Frimer, H., Appelman, Z., Ben-Neriah, Z., Dar, H., Fejgin, M. D., … Shohat, M. (2005). Chromosome aberration and environmental physical activity: Down syndrome and solar and cosmic ray activity, Israel, 1990–2000. International Journal of Biometeorology, 50(1), 1–5. doi:10.1007/s00484-005-0274-2
10. Astrophysical Background
Background publications on solar physics, geomagnetic field dynamics, and Schumann resonance physics that provide the environmental context for heliobiology research.
Hathaway, D. H. (2015). The solar cycle. Living Reviews in Solar Physics, 12(1), 4.
Heckman, S., Williams, E., & Boldi, B. (1998). Total global lightning inferred from Schumann resonance measurements. Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres, 103(D24), 31775–31779.
Matveyeva, E. T., & Shchepetnov, R. V. (2007). Temporal characteristics and medical aspects of Pc1 geomagnetic pulsations. Journal of Atmospheric and Solar-Terrestrial Physics, 69(14), 1747–1752. doi:10.1016/j.jastp.2007.02.012
Schüssler, M. (2012). Solar magneto-convection. Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union, 8(S294), 95–106. doi:10.1017/S1743921313002329
Solanki, S. K., Inhester, B., & Schüssler, M. (2006). The solar magnetic field. Reports on Progress in Physics, 69(3), 563.
If you are new to heliobiology, the review articles in section 1 are the best starting point. For background on the environmental parameters these studies measure — solar wind, Kp index, geomagnetic activity — the Solar & Geophysical overview provides the context.
The studies in this library represent a range of research quality, methodologies, and findings. They are listed for reference and do not individually or collectively constitute clinical guidance. Some findings are well-replicated; others are single studies or exploratory analyses.
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The content on SolarHealth is for educational and informational purposes only. It does not constitute medical advice and should not be used as a basis for health or treatment decisions. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional regarding any health concerns.