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Monday, February 21, 2011

Get ready for a 'global Katrina': Biggest ever solar storm could cause power cuts which last for MONTHS


By David Derbyshire
Last updated at 4:06 PM on 21st February 2011

The world is overdue a ferocious 'space storm' that could knock out communications satellites, ground aircraft and trigger blackouts - causing hundreds of billions of pounds of damage, scientists say.

Astronomers today warned that mankind is now more vulnerable to a major solar storm than at any time in history - and that the planet should prepare for a global Katrina-style disaster.

A massive eruption of the sun would save waves of radiation and charged particles to Earth, damaging the satellite systems used for synchronising computers, airline navigation and phone networks.

If the storm is powerful enough it could even crash stock markets and cause power cuts that last weeks or months, experts told the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
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26 comments:

  1. EgzFebruary 21, 2011 at 1:43 PM

    Holy shit! I'm pretty scared of these things!

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  2. elexerdelexFebruary 21, 2011 at 1:51 PM

    ya right...
    The sun would never hurt us, we did not do anything to the sun either!

    ReplyDelete
  3. ZombieFebruary 21, 2011 at 2:23 PM

    Good thing I got a generator in my garage!

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  4. pizzafuckyesFebruary 21, 2011 at 2:36 PM

    sounds pretty serious, though I don't think anything will actually happen

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  5. Astronomy PirateFebruary 21, 2011 at 3:14 PM

    This is one of those news stories they love to trot out every once in awhile. Of course there is a risk, there always is, but the level of damage is blown way out of proportion. It certain rural areas it might take months, but anyone living in a modern and well connected area it wouldn't last more then a week.

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  6. Colin and NickolasFebruary 21, 2011 at 3:19 PM

    wen is this happening?

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  7. D22 ZoneFebruary 21, 2011 at 3:51 PM

    Yeah i read this on the news the other day, pretty scary if you ask me! No more blogging for us for a couple of days/weeks/months then :P

    ReplyDelete
  8. AnonymousFebruary 21, 2011 at 4:41 PM

    Wow, I guess it is the end of the world.

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  9. DudemeisterFebruary 21, 2011 at 6:39 PM

    This is the way the world ends. Not with a bang, but with a whimper...

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  10. edFebruary 21, 2011 at 6:49 PM

    this would really suck, hope we can find a way around it

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  11. TheRogueFebruary 21, 2011 at 9:56 PM

    The end of days cometh!!

    I'll believe it when I see it, ppl always like to stir things up...most times unessasarily!!

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  12. Archon6February 21, 2011 at 10:01 PM

    Somehow I'm not worried about this.

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  13. ShowtekFebruary 21, 2011 at 10:42 PM

    just a theory

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  14. obiFebruary 22, 2011 at 12:31 AM

    no nothing to worry about ;)
    nice post, i like this stuff.

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  15. synoptixsFebruary 22, 2011 at 2:26 AM

    everytime I hear about these solar storms I tend to worry but haven't seen any dramatic occurence from them yet

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  16. PekkaKFebruary 22, 2011 at 3:02 AM

    This is gonna do some damage :/

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  17. JMchiefFebruary 22, 2011 at 4:09 AM

    I don't think this will happen but it's interesting stuff..

    http://jmchief93elite.blogspot.com

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  18. Patti D.February 22, 2011 at 4:43 AM

    we are screwed!!

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  19. Every DayFebruary 22, 2011 at 1:42 PM

    somehow I'm not concerned at all.

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  20. tetcrhFebruary 22, 2011 at 1:43 PM

    The Mail is precisely the least reliable news source on anything, so I wouldn't worry too much!! Solar Storms will do almost nothing.

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  21. jonwintersFebruary 22, 2011 at 4:11 PM

    i would love it if this happened.

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  22. Red13February 22, 2011 at 10:09 PM

    we've def. heard things like this before

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  23. ZachFebruary 22, 2011 at 10:32 PM

    Thats legitimately scary.

    -Zach
    http://www.evanztories.blogspot.com

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  24. SteveFebruary 23, 2011 at 2:00 AM

    Shit. Oh well, I'm fed up with the human race's thriving anyway :)

    ReplyDelete
  25. Lendo KharFebruary 23, 2011 at 3:13 AM

    Is that something new? Seems weird it didn't happen before.

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  26. fabio_2007February 23, 2011 at 3:34 AM

    I also heard about this.

    ReplyDelete

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