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NASA Data Suggests Solar Magnetic Field About To Flip

Freddybear writes "According to measurements from NASA solar observatories, the sun's magnetic field is about to reverse polarity. The event is predicted to occur within the next three to four months and will have effects throughout the solar system. These magnetic reversals happen regularly about every eleven years as part of the solar cycle."

84 of 127 comments (clear)

  1. You know what this means. by azav · · Score: 4, Funny

    I'll be in my bunk-er.

    --
    - Zav - Imagine a Beowulf cluster of insensitive clods...
    1. Re:You know what this means. by s.petry · · Score: 2

      From TFA, this happens every 11 years. So if you are under the age of 11, you can be scared. If you are over the age of 11, this should be a "been there done that" moment.

      --

      -The wise argue that there are few absolutes, the fool argues that there are no probabilities.

    2. Re:You know what this means. by Darinbob · · Score: 1

      But there actually was a bit of panic over the last one. People claiming that because the rise in satellite communications was vastly higher than last time, the internet was "new", fly by wire planes would fail, etc.

  2. Oh no by 50000BTU_barbecue · · Score: 4, Funny

    What does this mean for the recipes on my fridge? Should I switch to suction cups?

    --
    Mostly random stuff.
    1. Re:Oh no by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

      Just turn your fridge upside down

    2. Re:Oh no by NatasRevol · · Score: 1

      Or just the recipes.

      --
      There are two types of people in the world: Those who crave closure
    3. Re:Oh no by davester666 · · Score: 1

      You have to do both, so you can still read the recipes...

      And replacing recipes with suction cups...I don't know where to begin.

      --
      Sleep your way to a whiter smile...date a dentist!
    4. Re:Oh no by dsvick · · Score: 2

      No, no, you just have to hang them on the back of the fridge. They'll be a bit hard to get to there but, just think, 11 years from now when you switch them back, you'll have all sorts of rediscovered recipes to try.

    5. Re:Oh no by interkin3tic · · Score: 5, Funny

      I'm pretty sure you flip them upside-down, convert to metric, and replace any beer in the fridge with fosters.

    6. Re:Oh no by delt0r · · Score: 1

      Anything but fosters.... I don't know anyone from Australia that even drinks it.

      --
      If information wants to be free, why does my internet connection cost so much?
  3. Sun has PMS by MLBs · · Score: 3, Funny

    And as usual, innocent men have to suffer.

  4. Doom and gloom by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Waiting for news reports to be published that leave out the part that this is normal and part of the aprox eleven year solar cycle.

    1. Re:Doom and gloom by s.petry · · Score: 1

      "The first and funniest to yell will be the ones pointing out that the WSO telescope looks like the illuminati symbol. Many people will believe it to be impossible that it is natural.

      --

      -The wise argue that there are few absolutes, the fool argues that there are no probabilities.

    2. Re:Doom and gloom by Obfuscant · · Score: 1

      Many people will believe it to be impossible that it is natural.

      I do not believe that the WSO telescope facility is a natural formation. I think it was intelligently designed. You may now prove me wrong.

    3. Re:Doom and gloom by s.petry · · Score: 1

      The portion you quoted referred to the event, not the telescope. I could have been more detailed, but most people don't require that level of detail.

      --

      -The wise argue that there are few absolutes, the fool argues that there are no probabilities.

  5. Yawn by djupedal · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I've survived 5 of these so far - one more can't hurt...

    1. Re:Yawn by slashmydots · · Score: 4, Funny

      It never hurts to have sun polar flipping insurance though

    2. Re:Yawn by interkin3tic · · Score: 1

      But knowing it's flipped could be useful. For one thing, if you find yourself on the surface of the sun, you now know that you'll need to read your compass backwards.

    3. Re:Yawn by manpeach · · Score: 1

      Shouldn't that be solar polar flipping insurance?

  6. queue apocolypse theories in 3... 2... 1... by fullmetal55 · · Score: 1

    mark!

    If this is happening in 3-4 months, how many of those days will we get "documentaries" on how this might spell our doom?

    Seriously,. if this happens every 11 years, it's hardly noteworthy...

    That means I've lived through 3 of them...

    1. Re:queue apocolypse theories in 3... 2... 1... by Enry · · Score: 1

      The Sun is sucking up sharks and spitting them back at us! Next week on SyFy: Sharkspotnado!

    2. Re:queue apocolypse theories in 3... 2... 1... by azav · · Score: 1

      I just wish that the fact that this is regularly wasn't mentioned, so we could see just how many idjits started talking about how this is a sign of "a new cosmic awakening", or some other BS like that.

      --
      - Zav - Imagine a Beowulf cluster of insensitive clods...
    3. Re:queue apocolypse theories in 3... 2... 1... by davidwr · · Score: 2

      If this is happening in 3-4 months, how many of those days will we get "documentaries" on how this might spell our doom?

      Dang, if only this happened last December, at the end/beginning of the Mayan Calendar cycle. The media would've had an even bigger field day.

      --
      Knowledge is how to play a game, intelligence is how to win, wisdom is knowing what game to play.
    4. Re:queue apocolypse theories in 3... 2... 1... by NatasRevol · · Score: 1

      Meglaspot!

      --
      There are two types of people in the world: Those who crave closure
    5. Re:queue apocolypse theories in 3... 2... 1... by Lumpy · · Score: 1

      No...

      SharkFlare! It's sharks It's solar flares! Oh the huge manatee!

      --
      Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
    6. Re:queue apocolypse theories in 3... 2... 1... by theatrociousone · · Score: 1

      No...

      SharkFlare! It's sharks It's solar flares! Oh the huge manatee!

      For some reason, I immediately put that to B-52 music, with Kate blaring out the words.

    7. Re:queue apocolypse theories in 3... 2... 1... by trum4n · · Score: 1

      I'm sure there is a pill for that.

    8. Re:queue apocolypse theories in 3... 2... 1... by theatrociousone · · Score: 1

      That is something I definitely don't need a pill for.

    9. Re:queue apocolypse theories in 3... 2... 1... by singingjim1 · · Score: 1

      I'm just glad to see I'm not the only one who thinks the use of the lens flare in his movies is WAY over the top. Somebody should say something to him.

  7. Add one more. by Virtucon · · Score: 1

    Death, Taxes and the Sun's magnetic reversal cycle.

    --
    Harrison's Postulate - "For every action there is an equal and opposite criticism"
    1. Re:Add one more. by R3d+M3rcury · · Score: 1

      Not to mention Stew. When the first man crawled out of the slime and went to make his home on land, what he had for dinner that night was stew.

    2. Re:Add one more. by Darinbob · · Score: 1

      Primordial stew?

    3. Re:Add one more. by Virtucon · · Score: 1

      Huh, I heard the great benefactor Stu was the guy in charge? My mistake.

      --
      Harrison's Postulate - "For every action there is an equal and opposite criticism"
  8. Thanks for including the "but it's normal" note by Aguazul2 · · Score: 1

    Otherwise just imagine the panic: non-TFA reading geeks everywhere emerging blinking into the light like an invading zombie army. Could be the end of civilization.

    1. Re:Thanks for including the "but it's normal" note by azav · · Score: 1

      Oh, no. Not again.

      --
      - Zav - Imagine a Beowulf cluster of insensitive clods...
    2. Re:Thanks for including the "but it's normal" note by Sique · · Score: 1

      But cave-dwelling^Wbasement-living geeks don't interact with the sun anyway.

      --
      .sig: Sique *sigh*
    3. Re:Thanks for including the "but it's normal" note by necro81 · · Score: 2

      "Many people have speculated that if we knew exactly why the bowl of petunias had thought that we would know a lot more about the nature of the universe than we do now"

      Replace "bowl of petunias" with "the sun", and you get become a PhD student.

    4. Re:Thanks for including the "but it's normal" note by dsvick · · Score: 1

      What makes you think they'll let a little fact like that get in the way of their doomsaying? I'm sure they'll be able to come up with something:
      This one happened faster than previous ones
      This one was slower than others
      This one was stronger
      It was weaker
      It's going to happen over the holidays so it has biblical implications
      When combined with global warming it will cause untold catastrophes
      ...

  9. Monopole? by steamraven · · Score: 1

    From TFA:

    "The sun's north pole has already changed sign, while the south pole is racing to catch up,"

    Can someone explain what is actually going on?

    1. Re:Monopole? by Rhacman · · Score: 4, Insightful

      I'm not sure, though it doesn't seem strange to me. A magnet doesn't have to have its poles 180 degrees away from each other (think a horseshoe magnet).

      --
      Account -> Discussions -> Disable Sigs
    2. Re:Monopole? by Russ1642 · · Score: 1

      That means that somewhere in the middle things are really screwy. You'd probably have to ask Stephen Hawking to know what's really going on in there.

    3. Re:Monopole? by icebike · · Score: 1

      I'm not sure, though it doesn't seem strange to me. A magnet doesn't have to have its poles 180 degrees away from each other (think a horseshoe magnet).

      But "racing to catch up"...!!?!!

      Damn Northerners! They've stolen a march on our poor Southern horseshoes!!

      Caint never trust them dad burn Yankee magnets!

      --
      Sig Battery depleted. Reverting to safe mode.
    4. Re:Monopole? by budgenator · · Score: 1

      It means the solar sharknadeo caused a coronal monopole ejaculation inducing a carrington event class money shot here on Earth! It maybe a good idea to retreat to your under-volcano secret lair for the next 3-4 months if your not into bubuki.

      --
      Apocalypse Cancelled, Sorry, No Ticket Refunds
  10. TLDR? 4 minute video. by DaTrueDave · · Score: 4, Informative

    Here's a 4 minute video on the topic:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34gNgaME86Y

    I find it interesting that this cycle is a bit longer than normal this time.

  11. Countdown for the SyFy disaster flick by GodfatherofSoul · · Score: 2

    Starting now...[assuming it hasn't been done yet]

    --
    I swear to God...I swear to God! That is NOT how you treat your human!
    1. Re:Countdown for the SyFy disaster flick by lexman098 · · Score: 1

      Sharknova

    2. Re:Countdown for the SyFy disaster flick by Thud457 · · Score: 1

      no, it's either Octoflare or Coronal Snake Ejection this time.

      --

      the preceding comment is my own and in no way reflects the opinion of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

    3. Re:Countdown for the SyFy disaster flick by interkin3tic · · Score: 2

      Looking at their original movies, it appears that SyFy is the disaster.

      "Ghost Shark: it's a shark that's a ghost. Need anything else?" SyFy, hinting that you're aware you're making disgracefully shitty entertainment doesn't mean it's not disgracefully shitty. In fact, it just makes it worse.

    4. Re:Countdown for the SyFy disaster flick by OakDragon · · Score: 1

      They need to send Hilary Swank to the heart of the sun to get the solar poles straightened out.

    5. Re:Countdown for the SyFy disaster flick by GodfatherofSoul · · Score: 1

      This is my problem with their movies lately. Before you laughed at how bad they are. Now SyFy seems to want to join in and laugh at themselves; almost as if they're absolving themselves of making such crappy movies. It doesn't take much to make good movies. Look at all of those Chill network originals. I've seen some very entertaining small pics and Chill is a minor network.

      --
      I swear to God...I swear to God! That is NOT how you treat your human!
  12. Misread that... by wbr1 · · Score: 4, Funny
    For a second I thought the title read, "NSA Data Suggests Solar Magnetic Field About To Flip"

    And thought, man they really are spying on everything.

    --
    Silence is a state of mime.
    1. Re:Misread that... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      Well they can't have the sun changing sides too. Imagine what would happen if the sun turned against us. We'd get all Snowd 'en.

  13. Survivalist Nutjobs rejoice! by tekrat · · Score: 1

    Headed for the bunker with your bugout bag and your rifle.

    Yeppers, I remember "cheaper than dirt" selling all kinds of crap for the Y2K apocalypse, and then there was the coming Rapture, and then the Mayan apocalypse.

    I'm sure there were a few more end of the world scenarios I missed, but seriously, the end of the world seems to happen about every 2 years.

    --
    If telephones are outlawed, then only outlaws will have telephones.
  14. Could it be PlanetX/Niburu? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1
  15. The last time... by guytoronto · · Score: 2

    The last time the magnetic field flipped (Feb 2001), Brendan Fraser starred in Monkeybone. What colossal box office flop awaits us this time around?

    1. Re:The last time... by cyberchondriac · · Score: 2

      The last time the magnetic field flipped (Feb 2001), Brendan Fraser starred in Monkeybone. What colossal box office flop awaits us this time around?

      Monkeybone II starring Shia LaBeouf, obviously..

      --

      Look back up at my post, now look back down, you're on the Internet. Now look back up. I'm a signature.
    2. Re:The last time... by eyenot · · Score: 1

      Monkeybone On Ice

      --
      "Stratigraphically the origin of agriculture and thermonuclear destruction will appear essentially simultaneous" -- Lee
  16. Social Media by Scutter · · Score: 4, Funny

    I wonder what role social media is having on the timeline for this event?

    --

    "Tell me doctor, with all of your defenses, are there any provisions for an attack by killer bees?"
  17. Surprising frequency by pr0t0 · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Given the predicted 8 billion year lifespan of the sun, 11 years is a blip. If you equated it to a human 80-year lifespan, the magnetic reversal would happen every 3.47 seconds. It's almost like a heartbeat at that rate.

    --
    I'm sorry, but your opinion seems to be wrong.
  18. About Time! by Jane+Q.+Public · · Score: 4, Funny

    It has been a pretty rotten 11 years.

    1. Re:About Time! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      <3 same here.

  19. Feb. 2001 called, it wants its Armageddon back by davidwr · · Score: 2

    For those of you too young to remember, it happened before and it will happen again.

    --
    Knowledge is how to play a game, intelligence is how to win, wisdom is knowing what game to play.
  20. Re:Earth's magnetic field by someone1234 · · Score: 1

    Totally unrelated. What do you mean by "slated" anyway. Does it qualify If it will happen in 1000 years?

    --
    Patents Drive Free Software as Hurricanes Drive Construction Industry
  21. Not Sharkspotnado! by davidwr · · Score: 4, Funny

    Coronal Shark Ejection!

    --
    Knowledge is how to play a game, intelligence is how to win, wisdom is knowing what game to play.
    1. Re:Not Sharkspotnado! by davidbrit2 · · Score: 1

      Gentlemen, we have a decision to make. Are we going to use this to name an awesome B-movie, or an edgy indie band? We only have one shot at this; don't screw it up.

  22. No you didn't misread it Re:Misread that... by davidwr · · Score: 1

    For a second I thought the title read, "NSA Data Suggests Solar Magnetic Field About To Flip"

    And thought, man they really are spying on everything.

    You probably aren't wrong.

    --
    Knowledge is how to play a game, intelligence is how to win, wisdom is knowing what game to play.
  23. About to Reverse Polarity by Idetuxs · · Score: 2

    Oh my God!

  24. SunSharks or maybe SolarSharks by Joe_Dragon · · Score: 1

    SunSharks or maybe SolarSharks

    1. Re:SunSharks or maybe SolarSharks by Obfuscant · · Score: 1

      SunSharks or maybe SolarSharks

      Candygram.

  25. Ancient Aliens by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Is it possible, as some Ancient Astronaut Theorists suggest.....

  26. Voyager experiments by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Could this be an opportunity for Voayager to finally measure the Sun's magnetosphere / edge of the solar system in more detail. The sun is not a perfect sphere I'm guessing, so the change should be recordable onboard Voyager if NASA gets lucky.

    1. Re:Voyager experiments by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Since magnetic fields become embedded in the plasma of the solar wind and are carried outward from the Sun by the solar winds, any changes we observe happening on the Sun won't reach Voyager probes until over 3 years from now.

  27. I CAN'T BELIEVE OBAMA WOULD DO THIS TO US by egamma · · Score: 1, Funny
    10 PRINT Does that MAN have ANY IDEA how many batteries I will have to TURN AROUND?? That will take HOURS!

    20 END (kidding)

  28. Re:uh oh - bring on the climate deniers by harperska · · Score: 1

    weather != climate

    Or were you just trolling?

  29. Re:TLDR? 4 minute video. by icebike · · Score: 1

    Wait, don't you have a 20 second video?
    It takes only a minute to read the summary and TFA.

    You sir are purveyor of false economy!

    --
    Sig Battery depleted. Reverting to safe mode.
  30. Re:TLDR? 4 minute video. by Minwee · · Score: 1

    I'm waiting for a four minute informational video on the topic, directed by Michael Bay.

  31. Re:TLDR? 4 minute video. by nherm · · Score: 1

    "TLDR" ?? :)

    This recent 1-h presentation from Helen Mason at the Royal Institute is extremely informative

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbI6TDHCfe4

    From the article:

    "Changes to the field's polarity ripple all the way out to the Voyager probes, on the doorstep of interstellar space."

    Expect new announcements about Voyager 1 reaching interstellar space in the next 3 to 4 months :P

  32. Re:TLDR? 4 minute video. by OakDragon · · Score: 1

    tl;dw

  33. SyFy channel by AzTechGuy · · Score: 1

    Sounds like a SyFy channel movies, Solar Polarity Flip causes big electrical tornadoes that cause massive earth quakes and exposing huge underground caverns where giant snakes, spiders, mythical creatures escape to wreak havoc on Earth.

    1. Re:SyFy channel by Daetrin · · Score: 1

      Ha ha ha, very funny. SyFy wouldn't do something like that.

      Because you forgot to include sharks. Everything has to have sharks in it now.

      --
      This Space Intentionally Left Blank
  34. Musical tone by dfsmith · · Score: 1

    It appears the sun's magnetic field is playing a G at 37 octaves below middle C. *

    * Based on 22.2 year mean cycle time. It appears to vary a bit, and it's playing a bit sharp.

  35. Re:uh oh - bring on the climate deniers by budgenator · · Score: 1

    Well the warming has been stalled for about 17 years at arround 0.3, last July was only 0.17 warmer. The current solar cycle 24 has been pretty anemic, and now we find out the max is half over, so things should start cooling off for the next eleven or so years! My magic eight ball says the iguanas are going to be falling out of the trees in Florida pretty soon.

    --
    Apocalypse Cancelled, Sorry, No Ticket Refunds
  36. Re:So who gets to change... by gestalt_n_pepper · · Score: 1

    Sigh. OK, OK, I'll do it again, but this is the last time.

    --
    Please do not read this sig. Thank you.
  37. Magnetic monopole? by sfsp · · Score: 1

    So, both the physical S and N ends of the sun are magnetic S? Where is the N magnetic pole?

    Big damn monopole.