How sun storms can affect electronics on Earth

To most people, the sun is a steady, never-changing source of heat and light. But to scientists, it’s a dynamic star, constantly in flux, sending energy out into space. Experts say the sun is now in its most active period in two decades. And, its solar storms bring risks, including blackouts, disabled satellites, and damaged cell phones and GPS networks. In the most extreme scenarios, some power grids could be knocked out for weeks or even months.

Class discussion: Have all our advances in technology – satellite communications, GPS, cell phones, etc. – made us more vulnerable to disruptions from either solar flares or sabotage? How would you deal with losing use of your cell phone? What if the internet was unavailable? How would you survive if there were widespread electricity outages lasting months? Can we make our utilities and networks stronger? Do we need to keep learning how cope with the great forces of nature?