Rare Solar Superstorm Could Prompt ‘Internet Apocalypse’ Lasting Several Months: Study

Contact Your Elected Officials
The Epoch Times Logo

The “black swan” event of a solar superstorm directed at earth could prompt an “internet apocalypse” across the entire globe that could last for several months, new research (pdf) has warned.

University of California Irvine assistant professor Sangeetha Abdu Jyothi presented the new research, titled “Solar Superstorms: Planning for an Internet Apocalypse,” last month during the Association for Computing Machinery’s annual conference for their Special Interest Group on Data Communication (SIGCOMM).

“One of the greatest dangers facing the internet with the potential for global impact is a powerful solar superstorm,” Jyothi wrote in the new research paper.

“Although humans are protected from these storms by the earth’s magnetic field and atmosphere, they can cause significant damage to man-made infrastructure. The scientific community is generally aware of this threat with modeling efforts and precautionary measures being taken, particularly in the context of power grids. However, the networking community has largely overlooked this risk during the design of the network topology and geo-distributed systems such as DNS and data centers,” he continued.

solar storm, also known as a Coronal Mass Ejection (CME), occurs when a large mass of plasma and highly magnetized particles violently eject from the sun. Large CME’s can contain up to a billion tons of matter and can get accelerated to large fractions of the speed of light.

When the earth is in the direct path of a CME, these magnetized and charged solar particles interact with the earth’s magnetic field, producing geomagnetically induced currents (GIC) that can potentially disrupt communication satellites and long-distance cables that provide the world with the internet.

According to Jyothi’s research, power grids, oil and gas pipelines, and networking cables are the most vulnerable to the impacts of GIC’s, while submarine cables, which span hundreds or thousands of kilometres, are even more vulnerable than land cables, due to their larger lengths.

By Katabella Roberts

Read Full Article on TheEpochTimes.com

The Thinking Conservative
The Thinking Conservativehttps://www.thethinkingconservative.com/
The goal of THE THINKING CONSERVATIVE is to help us educate ourselves on conservative topics of importance to our freedom and our pursuit of happiness. We do this by sharing conservative opinions on all kinds of subjects, from all types of people, and all kinds of media, in a way that will challenge our perceptions and help us to make educated choices.

On the Major League’s periphery: A major trip through the minors

For Nick Dunn, the trek through the minors is a trifecta of physical, mental, and organizational hurdles filled with politics, roster volatility, and injuries.

Peace In Ukraine Won’t End The West’s Hybrid War On Russia

The West’s Hybrid War on Russia to follow peace in Ukraine is inevitable due to neoconservatives and liberal-globalists in its decision-making ecosystem.

Was Texas Storm Manmade?

Another “1-in-100 years” weather event in Kerr County happened next to a Texas designated “Weather Modification Map of Rain-Enhancement Projects in Texas”.

The America Party Will Harm Democrats The Most

Elon Musk formed the America Party after an X poll asking his followers if they wanted “independence from the two-party system!

Democrats Exhibit the Dunning-Kruger Effect (DKE)

“The Dunning-Kruger effect is a cognitive bias where people with low ability at a task overestimate their competence, while those with high ability underestimate their competence.

Doctor Groups Sue RFK Jr. Over Altered COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendations

Health Sec. RFK, Jr.’s decision to remove recommendations that healthy children and pregnant women receive COVID-19 vaccines was illegal, lawsuit alleges.

Los Angeles Mayor Confronts Federal Immigration Officers at MacArthur Park

After decrying federal immigration enforcement operations in Los Angeles, Mayor Karen Bass confronted ICE officers as they gathered at a city park.

What We Know About Victims of Texas Floods

The death toll from a series of devastating Texas floods over the July 4 weekend has risen to more than 100 people, many of whom are children.

Trial Begins Over Trump Admin’s Deportations of Pro-Palestinian Students

A trial over President Trump’s attempts to deport pro-Palestinian activists began on July 7 with attorneys debating free speech.

Trump Says BRICS Members Will Get Additional 10 Percent Tariffs Over Dedollarization Attempt

Trump warns BRICS he's imposing additional 10% tariff on nations, as bloc was created to replace U.S. dollar as dominant currency for international trade.

Top Trump Officials to Hold Trade Talks With China in August

The Trump administration’s top trade negotiators are set to meet with Chinese officials in early August, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said.

Trump, Netanyahu Meet for 2nd Consecutive Day at White House to Discuss Gaza

U.S. President Donald Trump is hosting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on July 8 for a second consecutive day.

Trump Extends Federal Hiring Freeze Until October

Trump issued memo extending federal hiring freeze until Oct. 15, maintaining exemptions for positions related to the armed forces and public safety.
spot_img

Related Articles