[Pink.]

sounds like a Michael Bay movie - explosions on the sun affecting power grids, airlines, satellites.

But it's real, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says it's about to happen, but it's highly unlikely to cause harm.

Tiny eruptions on the sun called solar flares (a more detailed description here from the BBC) have been happening for a few days, according to the NOAA. The activity signals that the sun, which is relatively quiet, is waking up, doing what one might call more vigorous stretching than it has done in about four years.

The flares could result in a dazzling show of Northern Lights. However, more serious consequences are described in a NOAA release. The flares "can blast Earth with magnetic events that can damage the electrical grid and temporarily damage radio and satellite telecommunications."

"We want people to know this is not, like, the mother of all events," said Joseph Kunches, a space scientist at the Space Weather Prediction Center in Boulder, Colorado. "What it means for the airlines is that they will adjust their routes, they know this is happening. Power grid operators have back-up plans, and they know what's happening."

NOAA has been in close communication with all aspects of industry that could be affected, he said.

[Faline]

Cool nature

[CuriousCanadian]

Originally Posted by Pink. ↗

but it's highly unlikely to cause harm.

1989 - one knocked out all of Quebec's power-grid

[Pink.]

Originally Posted by CuriousCanadian ↗

1989 - one knocked out all of Quebec's power-grid

I remember reading about this.

I do not understand how it could not cause SOME harm. Maybe they are speaking of the fact that redundancies and backups have been built into the power grids. I don't know, though. They, are the professionals, and all that we can do is hope that 1The people in charge are qualified. 2. The grids ' weak spots have been carefully repaired and monitored with vigilance..3. The strength and orientation of this blast will not be as extreme as predicted.

[aintthatathing]

Day of the Triffids. Dont look at the light!

[d23623d]

That's crazy dude. I watched a show about when they knocked out the power in Quebec. The crazy thing to me though is that I've dreamt about being at work and having the power go out 3 times in the last two weeks. It would be so badass if it came true.