HardwareWe’re (probably) doomed: Experts think the Sun may produce gigantic, electronics-destroying superflares much more often than we previously thoughtWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
HardwareWe’re (probably) doomed: Experts think the Sun may produce gigantic, electronics-destroying superflares much more often than we previously thoughtWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Frontier)
Asuperflareis essentially a solar megastorm, much more powerful than a regular solar flare and capable of releasing phenomenal amounts of electromagnetic radiation (viaLiveScience). Past studies have indicated that superflares were likely to happen once every few thousand years, buta study of 56,000 sun-like starshas shown that powerful superflares may occur more like once every century. Bully.
That would make our own beloved orb somewhat overdue for a superflare of its own—and the effects on modern infrastructure would likely be immense.
The researchers attribute this new, much higher predicted likelihood to a new flare detection method that better identifies flare sources in light curves and images with sub-pixel resolution, essentially ruling back in stars that were previously excluded from the study.
Back in the less-technologically-advanced days of 1859, this wasn’t a particularly big deal, although telegraph systems all over Europe and North America were said to fail, throw sparks, and in some cases even give operators electric shocks.
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If such an event was to occur today, though? Put it this way: I have some bad news for your gaming PC.
In March 1989, a similar (although much weaker) geomagnetic storm causeda 9-hour blackout in Quebecafter the power grid was overloaded. Today,scientists are concernedthat a stronger superflare event would not only cause worldwide power disruption, but potentially knock out undersea internet cables, erase data irretrievably, and shut down satellites.
Your next machine(Image credit: Future)Best gaming PC: The top pre-built machines.Best gaming laptop: Great devices for mobile gaming.
Your next machine
(Image credit: Future)Best gaming PC: The top pre-built machines.Best gaming laptop: Great devices for mobile gaming.
(Image credit: Future)
Best gaming PC: The top pre-built machines.Best gaming laptop: Great devices for mobile gaming.
Still, there’s some room for error in this new data. It’s possible that there are some unobserved differences between our sun and the sun-like stars included in the study, meaning that this essentially wouldn’t be an apples-to-apples comparison. Here’s hoping that proves out, ey?
In the meantime, the researchers advise that better forecasting of the sun would be prudent, and plans are already underway to launch better observation equipment to more accurately predict major solar events, like theESA Vigil probe, due to launch in 2031.
Until then, I think it’s probably one of those things best not thought about. There’s not much we could do to avoid the chaotic effects of a major solar blast, so if I were you I’d stick your fingers in your ears and hope someone cleverer than you works out that it was nothing much to worry about in the first place.
That’s my plan, anyway. Anyone fancy a round of brain-soothing videogames? I’m thinking of jumping back intoKerbal Space Program, if anyone wants to join me.
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