Science Daily reports on an international solar conference where topic number one was the lack of sunspot activity:
"The scientists said periods of inactivity are normal for the sun, but this period has gone on longer than usual. Today's sun is as inactive as it was two years ago, and scientists aren't sure why…'It continues to be dead,' said Saku Tsuneta with the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan..."
Some believe the lack of sunspots could usher in a much colder period for the earth.