Enormous solar storm that hit Earth 2,600 years ago could be biggest ever detected

  • 📰 Newsweek
  • ⏱ Reading Time:
  • 56 sec. here
  • 2 min. at publisher
  • 📊 Quality Score:
  • News: 26%
  • Publisher: 52%

United States Headlines News

United States Latest News,United States Headlines

Should a similar event take place today, it would have a devastating effect on society, scientists say.

Scientists have discovered evidence of one of the biggest solar storms ever recorded, when high-energy particles unleashed from the sun bombarded Earth just over 2,600 years ago. Should a similar event hit us today, it could have a devastating impact, potentially knocking out global communication systems, satellites, electrical grids and air traffic systems.

Evidence of solar storms hitting Earth in the past can be found in ice cores—samples of ice that formed over the past 100,000 years. Researchers are able to analyze the ice to find out when Earth was hit by an unusually high concentration of high-energy cosmic rays. This is only the third major solar storm event to be documented. Researchers say the current findings could mean the frequency of these “potentially devastating” events has probably been underestimated.

Leon Golub from the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, who was not involved in the research, said the findings indicate a storm far bigger than the Carrington Event and hundreds of times larger than anything recorded during the space age. “Space weather is a potential threat to power systems, communication/GPS satellites and airline passengers and crew,” he said. “Much of what we know about space weather is predicated on data from the space age. But this study shows that the sun is capable of producing far more energetic—and possibly more damaging—events than we've witnessed in the last 50 years.

 

Thank you for your comment. Your comment will be published after being reviewed.
Please try again later.

How long til Trump takes credit?

Now THIS is something to worry about, not eating meat or cow farts.

We have summarized this news so that you can read it quickly. If you are interested in the news, you can read the full text here. Read more:

 /  🏆 468. in US

United States Latest News, United States Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

There's Only One Blockbuster Left On Earth — So Make It A National Landmark, You CowardsThere's Only One Blockbuster Left On Earth. It's Time To Make It A Landmark. LastBlockbuster is that you Rudayyye thisisbeemnet I’m so sad. This calls for a girls trip to Oregon. Who’s in?
Source: BuzzFeed - 🏆 730. / 51 Read more »

Reuters Top News @ReutersSpaceX's crew spacecraft returns to Earth Regardez ce qui s'est passé à 6:24 dans la diffusion de : SpaceX's crew spacecraft returns to Earth Big congratulations to the team for making it a successful landing Yeeessss!!!!
Source: Reuters - 🏆 2. / 97 Read more »

Realizing the dream of space: Astronaut Peggy Whitson on leaving Earth for the first timePeggy Whitson made history several times in her career as an astronaut. She spent a record-breaking 665 days in space and became the first woman to command the ISS. In this interview, she describes her historic first spaceflight. MACH Whitson is nothing short of awesome. And that's, just in space. MACH Low earth orbit is not space.. MACH A real trailblazer. Here’s our tribute & celebration of her achievements:
Source: NBCNews - 🏆 10. / 86 Read more »

SpaceX’s Crew Dragon capsule heads back to EarthThe unmanned capsule undocked from the International Space Station after a six-day mission to deliver supplies and test the capsule for future flights with astronauts. - NBCNewsMACH MACH Filmed where? TruthMatters oh oh wait...ya...Houston we have a major problem...truth TruthWins SPIRITUAL MACH Space X jajjajajajjajaa roflmao truth
Source: NBCNews - 🏆 10. / 86 Read more »

Last Blockbuster on Earth mints new memberships 'every day'You may still have a late fee for that DVD you rented in 2010 if -- and only if -- you belong to the Blockbuster store in Bend, Oregon. At the end of March, the last Blockbuster video in Australia will close, leaving the Oregon outpost of the once-dominant brand the lone survivor, according to the Australian Do they still charge you if you don't rewind? I still have my card! I miss going to blockbuster on Friday nights !
Source: YahooNews - 🏆 380. / 59 Read more »

SpaceX's Crew Dragon Spacecraft Returns To Earth After Historic First MissionSpaceX has successfully completed the first test flight of its Crew Dragon spacecraft, the first orbital spacecraft designed for humans to launch from the US in eight years, with a successful return to Earth today. Designed for humans to take off and land, yet had no humans aboard. It did have a plush toy aboard though, so thank God for that Also, the parachutes look like peppermint candy. great
Source: Forbes - 🏆 394. / 53 Read more »