Will sun storms destroy civilization?
The "solar tsunami" that caused a dazzling aurora in the night sky earlier this month may be a harbinger of a global disaster, warn experts
This ultraviolet image of the sun shows two flares. Photo: Corbis
A large explosion on the surface of the sun earlier this month sent a tidal wave of electrically charged particles toward Earth. While the discharge created aurora borealis–like effects visible as far south as Michigan, many worry that a more serious storm could cause catastrophic damage to life on earth. "Without aggressive preparation," wrote disaster expert Lawrence E. Joseph in last weekend's New York Times, "we run the risk of a disaster magnitudes greater than Hurricane Katrina." (Watch a History Channel segment on what causes sun storms.) How would it be so serious, and what can we do to prepare? Here's a quick guide:
