Sun eruptions to peak in 2013

[Hum]

A massive solar storm, like the one that knocked out radio communications all over the U.S. in 1958, is coming, and this time the devastation could total as much as $2 trillion. Call it the perfect solar storm.

Wireless networks that power Blackberrys and iPhones here on earth, as well as GPS satellites that help pilots navigate planes in the skies, could be blacked out. And electric grids that power neighborhoods and whole cities could temporarily go down, said Professor Jose Lopez, a physicist at Seton Hall University.

?The concern of a strong solar flare in the direction of Earth is legit. The possibility that such a Sun burst could hit Earth could cause extensive damage as it would charge-up our electrical equipment and destroy them,? Lopez told FoxNews.com.

What starts as a multimillion-degree blast of fire from the sun cools over the vast distances of space. But what remains is a wave of energy that leaves satellites "highly charged" and damages components with its high current. Electronics are also damaged by high-energy particles that penetrate them and interfere with transmissions, as are electronics on Earth.

The sun has an activity cycle, much like the hurricane season here on Earth, scientists say.. And as it reaches a peak in activity, more solar flares and plasma will be hurled our way.

?The ramped up solar activity is to be expected through 2013, as it's the peak of the Sun's current 11-year cycle,? Lopez explained.

The whole solar storm could just pass us by, of course, like a giant hurricane that never quite makes landfall. Don?t over-react: the sun is not exploding. The end is not nigh.

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[XerXis]

They said the same thing about 2012. We (and our precious satellites) survived fine ;)

[Astra.Xtreme]

Even though we are at the solar cycle peak, I thought scientists concluded that this peak is looking very mild compared to past years.

http://www.nasa.gov/topics/solarsystem/features/solarcycle24_prt.htm

[Hum]

We are too complacent.

... the sun is not exploding. The end is not nigh.

There is no way for anyone to tell when the Sun may explode.

[Detection]

I look forward to major events like these and am always disappointed that nothing at all happens

[hckngrtfakt]

i stopped reading at

"..... told FoxNews.com"

:rolleyes:

[DocM]

We are too complacent.

There is no way for anyone to tell when the Sun may explode.

Explode as in go supernova? Can't. Not enough mass. Expand its diameter as stars of its type do near the end of their life? ~4-5 billion years to go.

As to the risk from solar flares, very real. Our power and communications systems are very vulnerable, and there have been widespread blackouts in the modern era because of flare related phenomena. Just a few....

http://www.space.com/12584-worst-solar-storms-sun-flares-history.html

[Growled Member]

It will happen one day but these constant scare tactics get old.

[Hum]

Explode as in go supernova? Can't. Not enough mass. Expand its diameter as stars of its type do near the end of their life? ~4-5 billion years to go.

All based on theories -- in which Science have many wrong.

[Detection]

All based on theories -- in which Science have many wrong.

Such as the big bang ? :shiftyninja:

[Astra.Xtreme]

All based on theories -- in which Science have many wrong.

Gravity is also a theory, but there's no reason to not believe it.

All these things are precisely measured following the laws of the cosmos as we know it. Anything is possible, but there's little reason to believe one single instance will go against everything else we've observed.

Maybe I'll grow wings and be able to fly in the next 10 minutes. But probably not...

[Growled Member]

Maybe I'll grow wings and be able to fly in the next 10 minutes. But probably not...

If you do be sure to make some grainy videos and post it in the Conspiracy Forum. :D

[Hum]

Gravity is also a theory, but there's no reason to not believe it.

All these things are precisely measured following the laws of the cosmos as we know it. Anything is possible, but there's little reason to believe one single instance will go against everything else we've observed.

How gravity works is a theory -- but its effects observable daily, so I don't question its reality.

How the Sun works is also a nice theory. The Sun is observable, but exactly what it is and when it may go out, nova, etc., are all based on theories.

We humans still have much to learn about just what Stars are.

Such as the big bang ?

The Big Bang is wrong in the sense that there was once-upon-a-time, a one-time Creation.

Entropy is a very flawed theory.

Creation is in fact still going on in each 'instant' of Time. ;)