'kernel_task' in Activity Monitor

Please help me understand why this 'kernel_task' item takes up 513 GB of disk space on my Activity Monitor. It's far beyond anything else on the list. I read somewhere about it being related to the motor and the heating of the Mac Air. I'm not hearing any rumbling of the motor, though I have noticed the bottom heating up occasionally. Thanks. /Michael.

MacBook Air 11″, macOS 10.15

Posted on Feb 1, 2021 7:17 AM

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1 reply

Feb 1, 2021 11:08 AM in response to michaelgmitchell

Jeesh. A simple thing. I did some reading, some research. All it took was a restart! Cmon. Really? The restart dropped the 'kernel_task' in Activity Monitor from 513 GB to 244 GB. I guess I won't complain, just need to "monitor" the monitor more regularly? /M.

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'kernel_task' in Activity Monitor