(Science via SWNS)
By Talker
By Stephen Beech via SWNS
Potentially deadly solar "superflares" are far more common than previously thought, according to a new study.
×
Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.
kAm&?FDF2==J DEC@?8 D@=2C DE@C>D 62C=:6C E9:D J62C EC:886C65 Q}@CE96C? {:89EDQ 2FC@C2D 2E >F49 =@H6C =2E:EF56D E92? FDF2=]k^Am
kAmqFE 6G6? >@C6 5C2>2E:4 QDFA6C7=2C6DQ \ H96? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E2=<6C]?6HD^a_ab^_e^`a^2DEC@?@>6CD\7:?5\D@=2C\DJDE6>\H:E9\EH@\DF?D\;FDE\=:<6\E2E@@:?6\:?\DE2C\H2CD^Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@C676CC6C ?@@A6?6CQmDF?\=:<6 DE2CDk^2m 9FC= 9F86 2>@F?ED @7 C25:2E:@? :?E@ DA246 \ 4@F=5 92AA6? 2D 7C6BF6?E=J 2D @?46 2 46?EFCJ[ D2J D4:6?E:DED]k^Am
kAmp?5 @FC k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E2=<6C]?6HD^a_ac^`a^_c^DA246D9:A\E92E\H:==\3=@4<\@FE\DF?\36:?8\=2F?4965^Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@C676CC6C ?@@A6?6CQm@H? $F?k^2m[ E@@[ :D 42A23=6 @7 DF49 @FE3FCDED]k^Am
kAm!C6G:@FD DEF5:6D 925 DF886DE65 QDFA6C7=2C6Q 6G6?ED @44FCC65 @?=J @?46 6G6CJ `[___ J62CD @C 6G6? =6DD 7C6BF6?E=J]k^Am
kAm#6D62C496CD D2J 6G:56?46 @7 E96 >@DE G:@=6?E D@=2C “E2?ECF>D” 42? 36 7@F?5 :? AC69:DE@C:4 EC66 ECF?<D 2?5 :? D2>A=6D @7 >:==6??:2\@=5 8=24:2= :46]k^Am
kAmw@H6G6C[ 7C@> E9@D6 :?5:C64E D@FC46D[ E96 7C6BF6?4J @7 DFA6C7=2C6D 42?VE 36 56E6C>:?65]k^Am
kAmp?5 5:C64E >62DFC6>6?ED @7 E96 2>@F?E @7 C25:2E:@? C6249:?8 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E2=<6C]?6HD^a_ac^`a^_c^DA246D9:A\E92E\H:==\3=@4<\@FE\DF?\36:?8\=2F?4965^Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@C676CC6C ?@@A6?6CQmt2CE9 7C@> E96 $F?k^2m 92G6 @?=J 366? 2G2:=23=6 D:?46 E96 368:??:?8 @7 E96 DA246 286]k^Am
kAmqFE D4:6?E:DED 6IA=2:?65 E92E 2?@E96C H2J E@ =62C? 23@FE @FC k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E2=<6C]?6HD^a_ac^_h^_b^E6>A6C2EFC6D\D@\9:89\:?\49:?2\A6@A=6\42?\4@@<\688D\:?\E96\DF?^Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@C676CC6C ?@@A6?6CQm$F?’D =@?8\E6C> 3692G:@Ck^2m :D E@ EFC? E@ E96 DE2CD]k^Am
(Photo by Tobias Bjørkli via Pexels)
By Talker
kAm|@56C? DA246 E6=6D4@A6D @3D6CG6 E9@FD2?5D @7 DE2CD 2?5 C64@C5 E96:C 3C:89E?6DD 7=F4EF2E:@?D :? G:D:3=6 =:89E]k^Am
kAm$FA6C7=2C6D \ H9:49 C6=62D6 2>@F?ED @7 6?6C8J @7 >@C6 E92? @?6 @4E:==:@? ;@F=6D H:E9:? 2 D9@CE A6C:@5 @7 E:>6 \ D9@H E96>D6=G6D :? E96 @3D6CG2E:@?2= 52E2 2D D9@CE[ AC@?@F?465 A62<D :? 3C:89E?6DD]k^Am
kAmp? :?E6C?2E:@?2= C6D62C49 E62> 2?2=JK65 E96 52E2 7C@> de[cd_ DF?\=:<6 DE2CD 2D D66? 3J }p$p’D DA246 E6=6D4@A6 z6A=6C 36EH66? a__h 2?5 a_`b]k^Am
kAm$EF5J 4@\2FE9@C !C@7] sC] $2>: $@=2?<:[ @7 E96 |2I !=2?4< x?DE:EFE6 7@C $@=2C $JDE6> #6D62C49 W|!$X[ v6C>2?J[ D2:5i “(6 42??@E k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E2=<6C]?6HD^a_ac^_h^_b^2DEC@A9@E@8C2A96C\42AEFC6D\A=2D>2\=@@AD\@?\G6CJ\24E:G6\DF?^Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@C676CC6C ?@@A6?6CQm@3D6CG6 E96 $F?k^2m @G6C E9@FD2?5D @7 J62CD]k^Am
kAm“x?DE625[ 9@H6G6C[ H6 42? >@?:E@C E96 3692G:@C @7 E9@FD2?5D @7 DE2CD G6CJ D:>:=2C E@ E96 $F? @G6C D9@CE A6C:@5D @7 E:>6]k^Am
kAmQ%9:D 96=AD FD E@ 6DE:>2E6 9@H 7C6BF6?E=J DFA6C7=2C6D @44FC]Qk^Am
kAm!C@7] sC] p=6I2?56C $92A:C@[ 7C@> E96 &?:G6CD:EJ @7 vC2K[ pFDEC:2[ D2:5i “x? E96:C 6?E:C6EJ[ E96 z6A=6C 52E2 AC@G:56 FD H:E9 6G:56?46 @7 aa_[___ J62CD @7 DE6==2C 24E:G:EJ]Qk^Am
kAmw6 6IA=2:?65 E92E 42C67F= D6=64E:@? @7 E96 DE2CD E@ 36 E2<6? :?E@ 244@F?E H2D Q4CF4:2=Q E@ E96 DEF5J 2D E96J D9@F=5 36 A2CE:4F=2C=J 4=@D6 “C6=2E:G6D” @7 E96 $F?]k^Am
(Photo by Nils Söderman via Pexels)
By Talker
kAm%96 E62> @?=J 25>:EE65 DE2CD H9@D6 DFC7246 E6>A6C2EFC6 2?5 3C:89E?6DD H6C6 D:>:=2C E@ E96 $F?’D]k^Am
kAm%96J 42C67F==J 2?2=JK65 E96 :>286D @7 6249 A@E6?E:2= DFA6C7=2C6 \ @?=J 2 76H A:I6=D :? D:K6 \ 2?5 @?=J 4@F?E65 E9@D6 6G6?ED E92E 4@F=5 C6=:23=J 36 2DD:8?65 E@ @?6 @7 E96 D6=64E65 DE2CD]k^Am
kAm%96 E62> DF3D6BF6?E=J :56?E:7:65 a[ggh DFA6C7=2C6D @? a[daf @7 E96 de[cd_ @3D6CG65 DE2CD]k^Am
kAm%96 7:?5:?8D[ AF3=:D965 :? E96 ;@FC?2= $4:6?46[ >62? E92E[ @? 2G6C286[ @?6 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E2=<6C]?6HD^a_ac^_f^_h^DA246D9:AD\=2F?49:?8\E@\6IA=@C6\>JDE6C:@FD\C25:@\H2G6D\7C@>\DF?^Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@C676CC6C ?@@A6?6CQmDF?\=:<6 DE2Ck^2m AC@5F46D 2 DFA6C7=2C6 2C@F?5 @?46 A6C 46?EFCJ]k^Am
kAmr@\2FE9@C sC] p==2? $2492 qCF?[ @7 E96 &?:G6CD:EJ @7 !2C:D\r:Eé[ uC2?46[ D2:5i “w:89\A6C7@C>2?46 5J?2>@ 4@>AFE2E:@?D @7 E96D6 D@=2C\EJA6 DE2CD 62D:=J 6IA=2:? E96 >28?6E:4 @C:8:?D @7 E96 :?E6?D6 C6=62D6 @7 6?6C8J 5FC:?8 DF49 DFA6C7=2C6D]Qk^Am
kAmu:CDE 2FE9@C sC] '2=6C:J '2D:=J6G @7 |!$[ D2:5i “(6 H6C6 G6CJ DFCAC:D65 E92E DF?\=:<6 DE2CD 2C6 AC@?6 E@ DF49 7C6BF6?E DFA6C7=2C6D]Qk^Am
kAmt2C=:6C DFCG6JD 3J @E96C C6D62C49 8C@FAD 925 7@F?5 2G6C286 :?E6CG2=D @7 `[___ J62CD @C 6G6? `_[___ J62CD]k^Am
(Photo by Pixabay via Pexels)
By Talker
kAmw@H6G6C[ 62C=:6C DEF5:6D H6C6 F?23=6 E@ 56E6C>:?6 E96 6I24E D@FC46 @7 E96 @3D6CG65 7=2C6 2?5 E96C67@C6 925 E@ =:>:E E96>D6=G6D E@ DE2CD E92E 5:5 ?@E 92G6 2?J E@@ 4=@D6 ?6:893@FCD :? E96 E6=6D4@A6 :>286D]k^Am
kAm{@?86C 2G6C286 E:>6 :?E6CG2=D 36EH66? 6IEC6>6 D@=2C 6G6?ED 92G6 2=D@ 366? DF886DE65 3J DEF5:6D =@@<:?8 7@C 6G:56?46 @7 G:@=6?E D@=2C DE@C>D :>A24E:?8 t2CE9]k^Am
kAm!C6G:@FD=J[ C6D62C496CD H6C6 23=6 E@ :56?E:7J 7:G6 6IEC6>6 D@=2C A2CE:4=6 6G6?ED 2?5 E9C66 42?5:52E6D H:E9:? E96 A2DE `a[___ J62CD[ =625:?8 E@ 2? 2G6C286 @44FCC6?46 C2E6 @7 @?46 A6C `[d__ J62CD]k^Am
kAm%96 >@DE G:@=6?E :D 36=:6G65 E@ 92G6 @44FCC65 :? E96 J62C ffd ps]k^Am
kAmw@H6G6C[ D4:6?E:DED D2J :E :D BF:E6 A@DD:3=6 E92E >@C6 DF49 G:@=6?E A2CE:4=6 6G6?ED 2?5 2=D@ >@C6 DFA6C7=2C6D @44FCC65 @? E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E2=<6C]?6HD^a_ac^_d^_b^DEF??:?8\4=@D6\FA\@7\DF?\D9@HD\6CFAE:@?\=2C86C\E92?\62CE9^Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@C676CC6C ?@@A6?6CQm$F? :? E96 A2DEk^2m]k^Am
kAm$EF5J r@\2FE9@C !C@7] x=J2 &D@D<:?[ @7 E96 &?:G6CD:EJ @7 ~F=F[ u:?=2?5[ D2:5i “xE :D F?4=62C H96E96C 8:82?E:4 7=2C6D 2C6 2=H2JD 244@>A2?:65 3J 4@C@?2= >2DD 6;64E:@?D 2?5 H92E :D E96 C6=2E:@?D9:A 36EH66? DFA6C7=2C6D 2?5 6IEC6>6 D@=2C A2CE:4=6 6G6?ED]Qk^Am
kAmw6 25565i Q%9:D C6BF:C6D 7FCE96C :?G6DE:82E:@?]Qk^Am
kAm%96 ?6H DEF5J 5@6D ?@E C6G62= H96? E96 $F? H:== E9C@H :ED ?6IE 7:E]k^Am
(Photo by Peter Brown via Pexels)
By Talker
kAmqFE 4@\2FE9@C sC] }2E2=:6 zC:G@G2[ @7 |!$[ D2:5i “%96 ?6H 52E2 2C6 2 DE2C< C6>:?56C E92E 6G6? E96 >@DE 6IEC6>6 D@=2C 6G6?ED 2C6 A2CE @7 E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E2=<6C]?6HD^a_ac^_c^ad^D@=2C\DFCAC:D6\7@FC\6IA=@D:@?D\@?\E96\DF?\DA2C<\4@?46C?D^Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@C676CC6C ?@@A6?6CQm$F?VD ?2EFC2= C6A6CE@:C6k^2m]”k^Am
kAmsFC:?8 E96 r2CC:?8E@? 6G6?E @7 `gdh[ @?6 @7 E96 >@DE G:@=6?E D@=2C DE@C>D @7 E96 A2DE a__ J62CD[ E96 E6=68C2A9 ?6EH@C< 4@==2AD65 :? =2C86 A2CED @7 ?@CE96C? tFC@A6 2?5 }@CE9 p>6C:42]k^Am
kAmp44@C5:?8 E@ 6DE:>2E6D[ E96 2DD@4:2E65 7=2C6 C6=62D65 @?=J 2 9F?5C65E9 @7 E96 6?6C8J @7 2 DFA6C7=2C6]k^Am
kAm%@52J[ :? 255:E:@? E@ E96 :?7C2DECF4EFC6 @? E96 t2CE9VD DFC7246[ D4:6?E:DED D2J D2E6==:E6D H@F=5 36 2E A2CE:4F=2C C:D<]k^Am
kAm%96 C6D62C49 E62> D2J E96 >@DE :>A@CE2?E AC6A2C2E:@? 7@C DEC@?8 D@=2C DE@C>D :D C6=:23=6 2?5 E:>6=J 7@C642DE:?8]k^Am
kAm%96J A@:?E65 @FE E92E[ 7C@> a_b`[ E96 tFC@A62? $A246 p86?4JVD AC@36 ':8:= H:== 96=A H:E9 7@C642DE:?8]k^Am
kAmuC@> :ED @3D6CG2E:@? A@D:E:@? :? DA246[ :E H:== =@@< 2E E96 $F? 7C@> E96 D:56 2?5 ?@E:46 D@@?6C E92? t2CE9\3@F?5 AC@36D H96? AC@46DD6D E92E >:89E 5C:G6 52?86C@FD DA246 H62E96C 2C6 3C6H:?8 FA @? @FC DE2C]k^Am
kAm|!$ D4:6?E:DED 2C6 4FCC6?E=J 56G6=@A:?8 E96 !@=2C:>6EC:4 2?5 |28?6E:4 x>286C 7@C E96 ':8:= >:DD:@?]k^Am
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Please log in, or sign up for a new, free account to read or post comments.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.