Origin of solar magnetism is yet to be fully understood. Many dynamo models with very different physics have successfully shown solar-like cyclic global magnetic activity. Spontaneous formation of localized magnetic structures, resembling active regions (ARs) or sunspots, has proved to be more challenging in advanced simulations of turbulent magneto-convection. We will discuss some latest developments on these topics based on recent numerical and observational studies. Moreover, the Sun supports a wide variety of waves that carry useful information about the inhomogeneous solar structure. We find that the solar surface gravity or the f-mode displays strengthening about two days prior to active region (AR) formation and thus it provides a new precursor for AR formation.

This has implications for space weather forecasting and can potentially be important for constraining dynamo paradigms of the Sun.