A Solar Storm Reminds Modern Life of How Fragile Power Really Is

A Solar Storm Reminds Modern Life of How Fragile Power Really Is


A calm lake looks harmless just before a sudden wind tips a canoe, causing the paddles to slap the water and knocking the paddlers off balance; panic replaces comfort.

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The lake never changed its character; the canoe simply forgot where danger lived.

The Sun Makes a Move

A powerful solar storm, first detected on Saturday, slammed into Earth after a high-velocity coronal mass ejection tore free from the Sun. This storm is the strongest in over 20 years.

“An S4 severe solar radiation storm is now in progress – this is the largest solar radiation storm in over 20 years. The last time S4 levels were observed was in October 2003. Potential effects are mainly limited to space

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