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Solar Eruption Triggers Strongest Radiation Storm

Posted by timothy on from the your-reception-is-terrible dept.

ForgedArtificer writes "A recent eruption on the sun will be exposing Earth to the strongest radiation storm seen since 2005. [The storm] will potentially disrupt communications and put high-flyers at risk of radiation exposure." Says Spaceweather.com: "On the NOAA scale of radiation storms, this one ranks S3, which means it could, e.g., cause isolated reboots of computers onboard Earth-orbiting satellites and interfere with polar radio communications." According to the Christian Science Monitor, "NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center has issued a geomagnetic storm watch, and the agency's deputy, Kathy Sullivan, said that polar flights are expected to be re-routed."

13 of 62 comments (clear)

  1. Sweet! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    This is my big chance to gain my super powers and become the evil genius I've always wanted to be.

    1. Re:Sweet! by jellomizer · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Or you get cancer.

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  2. ISS by gmuslera · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I suppose the people in the ISS qualify as "high flyers", but NASA says that will be no risk for them

    1. Re:ISS by The+Grim+Reefer · · Score: 5, Informative

      I suppose the people in the ISS qualify as "high flyers", but NASA says that will be no risk for them

      "On the International Space Station there is a special thick-walled room to which the astronauts have had to retreat during times of increased solar radiation."

      I'm guessing they'll be using this. At least until they add a deflector dish to reroute main power through. ;-)

    2. Re:ISS by confused+one · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Crew members on the ISS have a special waiver -- they're allowed to receive a dose higher than what is considered a normal maximum dose for trained personnel.

    3. Re:ISS by Bengie · · Score: 4, Interesting

      If you're in space, you also get to enjoy flashes of light even with your eyes closed because of radiation interacting with your eye. I wonder if they stayed outside their protective room, if they would see a disco ball of light from the solar onslaught.

      http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2004/22oct_cataracts/

  3. Re:Oblig XKCD! by art6217 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Are you posting from the polar region?

  4. About time for another bad SF Movie by ATestR · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I know its been done before, but that has never stopped Hollywood...

    --
    âoeAny society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both.
  5. After this solar storm.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    We'll be able to more clearly see a disk, a black flap, and a scorpion.

  6. If you think by SmallFurryCreature · · Score: 3, Funny

    If you think that all forms of radiation from the sun are absorbed by the atmosphere before they reach human beings on the surface, it must be very dark where you are. And cold.

    Lethal UV radiation reaches us all the time...oh okay, I am dutch, 3 days of the year. Which is celebrated by exposing as much of our skins as is legal to it till it cries out in terror and reacts violently to the radiation.

    Humans eh. no wonder we still haven't discovered slood.

    --

    MMO Quests are like orgasms:

    You may solo them, I prefer them in a group.

  7. Misleading Headline by xcfmx · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Headline: Solar Eruption Triggers Strongest Radiation Storm

    Oh wait... from the summary

    A recent eruption on the sun will be exposing Earth to the strongest radiation storm seen since 2005.

  8. STRONGEST RADIATION STORM!!!! by LighterShadeOfBlack · · Score: 3, Insightful

    ...since 2005.

    Nice tabloiding, Slashdot.

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    Spelling mistakes, grammatical errors, and stupid comments are intentional.
  9. Re:Which radio freq's will be most affected? by X0563511 · · Score: 4, Informative

    The reflection window will shift up (away from HF and towards UHF/VHF), meaning the lower frequencies will start to be absorbed while the higher ones start to reflect more (vs just refracting through)

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