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NASA Data Suggests Solar Magnetic Field About To Flip

Posted by timothy on from the we're-all-gonna-die dept.

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."

16 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...
  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 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.

  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.

  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

  6. 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.

  7. 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.

  8. 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?"
  9. 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.
  10. About Time! by Jane+Q.+Public · · Score: 4, Funny

    It has been a pretty rotten 11 years.

  11. 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
  12. 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.