Scientists Warn of Imminent ‘Superflare’ from the Sun, Potentially Disrupting Global Power Grids

A new study published in the journal Science suggests that the sun may be due for an extremely powerful “superflare” outburst in the next few decades. Researchers analyzed data from 56,450 stars and found that sun-like stars experience superflares approximately once every century.

According to the study, superflares are similar to solar flares, but release thousands of times more energy. The researchers warn that a superflare could have devastating effects on Earth’s magnetic field, causing widespread power outages and damage to satellites.

The study’s findings are based on data from NASA’s Kepler space telescope, which monitored the activity of thousands of stars between 2009 and 2013. The researchers found that 2,527 sun-like stars emitted a total of 2,889 superflares during this period.

“This discovery is useful for scientists, as it could help us prepare for extreme geomagnetic storms following a future superflare,” said study co-author Ilya Usoskin of Finland’s University of Oulu.

The researchers note that the sun’s past activity suggests that it may be overdue for a superflare. The last major solar flare, known as the Carrington Event, occurred in 1859 and caused widespread damage to telegraph systems.

While the exact timing of a potential superflare cannot be predicted, the researchers warn that it is essential to be prepared for such an event. “A geomagnetic storm takes place when Earth’s protective magnetic shield is pushed back or eroded by the solar wind,” said Martin Connors, a professor of space science and physics at Canada’s Athabasca University.

The study’s findings have significant implications for our understanding of the sun’s behavior and its potential impact on Earth. As the researchers conclude, “If our sample of Sun-like stars is representative of the Sun’s future behavior, it is substantially more likely to produce a superflare than was previously thought.”