Anybody read this? Solar Maximum. It really sounds scary.

Solar maximums occur about every 11 years. It just refers to a peak in sunspot activity. Solar flares can occur any time but are more likely during maximums. If a large solar flare were to hit earth, it would likely cause some damage to satellites and our electrical grid. But, we have known about this for a long time and I suspect that some protective measures have been put in place.
 
Grampa Don said:
Solar maximums occur about every 11 years. It just refers to a peak in sunspot activity. Solar flares can occur any time but are more likely during maximums. If a large solar flare were to hit earth, it would likely cause some damage to satellites and our electrical grid. But, we have known about this for a long time and I suspect that some protective measures have been put in place.
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Don't know if you read the article Don, but the next cycle is supposed to be much stronger than the last and cause more widespread damage that lasts two or three years.
“This could have quite a severe impact globally on how we run our lives, so it is a significant cause for concern,” said Prof Mervyn Freeman, BAS deputy leader of space weather."

So yes Paladin, it sounds scary!
 
Very scary situation as are many other “what ifs” if you allow your happiness and mental well-being to be influenced by them. Lots of candidates out there if you search for them.

Might be an interesting subject to discuss but leave out Chicken Little’s ‘the sky is falling’ aspect which is only meant to destroy the peace of mind of vulnerable people.
 
Predictions for the current solar cycle are all over the place. If you are curious, here is a link for more details. We don't really understand he sun enough to know what's going to happen. That's why there is a solar probe out there now.

Yes, there will probably be solar flares. Yes, it is possible that one could hit earth. What are the odds? No one knows, but probably slim.
If you want to worry about something, there is a possibility that a big asteroid is heading right for us. In the meantime, we are busy destroying ourselves.
 
Bah, Humbug. There are hundreds, maybe thousands, of these dangers. If you're worried about a solar flare, what about COVID? Or an asteroid hitting us, or nuclear war, or an airplane crashing into your house, or choking on a McNugget. Stop your addictions to the fearmongering news channels. And BTW, if you're on this site the chances of you living long enough to experience any of these existential events is zero.

Stand up from your fetal position now! Throw off your blankie, go outside and get some lunch. Order a cheeseburger with all the trimmings. You'll feel better. If not, at least you don't have to worry about lunch today.
 
Yeah, the thing that gets us if it ever does probably will come out of left field.

The movie "Tremors" is a fun ride, but I remember the prepper Burt Gummer exasperated by the monsters coming from under the ground. He had felt secure, but one can't prepare for everything.
 
OldEngineer said:
Bah, Humbug. There are hundreds, maybe thousands, of these dangers. If you're worried about a solar flare, what about COVID? Or an asteroid hitting us, or nuclear war, or an airplane crashing into your house, or choking on a McNugget. Stop your addictions to the fearmongering news channels. And BTW, if you're on this site the chances of you living long enough to experience any of these existential events is zero.

Stand up from your fetal position now! Throw off your blankie, go outside and get some lunch. Order a cheeseburger with all the trimmings. You'll feel better. If not, at least you don't have to worry about lunch today.
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Seriously OE?! I find your reply to be over the top and that's putting it nicely, because I feel like being nice tonight! The OP's post is based on scientific facts and not fear mongering news channels. He should not be ridiculed for sharing the information! Members can do with it what they want. I doubt any of us are lying in fetal position right now! The possible event has been covered by science and tech sites. People are advised to have plans in place in case of fires or hurricanes and tornadoes and to practice executing those plans. It doesn't mean they are to sit around worrying about those things happening. There is nothing wrong with emergency preparedness. Here is an excerpt from the first linked article:

"During particularly strong space weather events — which are more common during solar maximum — Earth's magnetic field is disturbed and geomagnetic storms can penetrate the magnetosphere and lead to widespread radio and power blackouts as well as endangering astronauts and Earth-orbiting satellites. One notable example occurred in 1989 when a CME accompanied a solar flare and plunged the entire province of Quebec, Canada into an electrical blackout that lasted around 12 hours according to NASA.

However, not all magnetosphere interferences are destructive, and one disturbance in particular gives rise to a remarkable show — auroras. The phenomenon is known as the northern lights (aurora borealis) in the Northern Hemisphere and the southern lights (aurora australis) in the Southern Hemisphere and is triggered by energetic particles being redirected toward Earth's poles and colliding with atoms of oxygen and nitrogen in Earth's atmosphere."
Solar maximum will arrive sooner and last longer than previously expected, say scientists

NASA-enabled AI Predictions May Give Time to Prepare for Solar Storms - NASA

Obviously none of us know what may happen from day to day. You could be shopping at the mall and get shot. A helicopter could fall out of the sky and hit you. Just last week my son's co-worker's father left for work and never came home. His car stalled on the turnpike, a mack truck ran into the back of him and his car burst into flames! Here's hoping you don't choke on one of those McNuggets. But I darned sure won't waste my energy worrying about it :LOL: just like I'm not worrying about other unforeseen events.
 
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OldEngineer said:
Bah, Humbug. There are hundreds, maybe thousands, of these dangers. If you're worried about a solar flare, what about COVID? Or an asteroid hitting us, or nuclear war, or an airplane crashing into your house, or choking on a McNugget. Stop your addictions to the fearmongering news channels. And BTW, if you're on this site the chances of you living long enough to experience any of these existential events is zero.

Stand up from your fetal position now! Throw off your blankie, go outside and get some lunch. Order a cheeseburger with all the trimmings. You'll feel better. If not, at least you don't have to worry about lunch today.
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After decades of worrying about anything and everything, I finally came to the conclusion that it was an immense waste of time. Because none of the things I worried about ever came true. Now I try to move on from aggravations (sometimes successful, sometimes not), have no or at least very few expectations, eat right, get moderate exercise and no worrying.
 
OneEyedDiva said:
Seriously OE?! I find your reply to be over the top and that's putting it nicely, because I feel like being nice tonight! The OP's post is based on scientific facts and not fear mongering news channels. He should not be ridiculed for sharing the information! Members can do with it what they want. I doubt any of us are lying in fetal position right now! The possible event has been covered by science and tech sites. People are advised to have plans in place in case of fires or hurricanes and tornadoes and to practice executing those plans. It doesn't mean they are to sit around worrying about those things happening. There is nothing wrong with emergency preparedness. Here is an excerpt from the first linked article:

"During particularly strong space weather events — which are more common during solar maximum — Earth's magnetic field is disturbed and geomagnetic storms can penetrate the magnetosphere and lead to widespread radio and power blackouts as well as endangering astronauts and Earth-orbiting satellites. One notable example occurred in 1989 when a CME accompanied a solar flare and plunged the entire province of Quebec, Canada into an electrical blackout that lasted around 12 hours according to NASA.

However, not all magnetosphere interferences are destructive, and one disturbance in particular gives rise to a remarkable show — auroras. The phenomenon is known as the northern lights (aurora borealis) in the Northern Hemisphere and the southern lights (aurora australis) in the Southern Hemisphere and is triggered by energetic particles being redirected toward Earth's poles and colliding with atoms of oxygen and nitrogen in Earth's atmosphere."
Solar maximum will arrive sooner and last longer than previously expected, say scientists

NASA-enabled AI Predictions May Give Time to Prepare for Solar Storms - NASA

Obviously none of us know what may happen from day to day. You could be shopping at the mall and get shot. A helicopter could fall out of the sky and hit you. Just last week my son's co-worker's father left for work and never came home. His car stalled on the turnpike, a mack truck ran into the back of him and his car burst into flames! Here's hoping you don't choke on one of those McNuggets. But I darned sure won't waste my energy worrying about it :LOL: just like I'm not worrying about other unforeseen events.
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Perfectly to my point. You are drinking the koolade & don't realize it.
 

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