Sun may cause internet apocalypse: scientist warns of the cruelest period of the star's cycle

The Sun is now entering the most violent period of its 11-year cycle and will be able to seriously grate on the nerves of people on Earth. In particular, it is possible that one of the powerful flares could well trigger an Internet apocalypse.

This warning was issued by Peter Becker, a professor of physics and astronomy at George Mason University. As Futurism writes, people are well aware that solar storms can damage satellite communications or affect the Earth's power grid. The reason is that charged particles ejected by the Sun, ranging from intense flashes of electromagnetic radiation known as solar flares to more powerful but slower emissions of plasma and magnetic radiation known as coronal mass ejections, can distort our planet's magnetic field.

Becker suggests that if a particularly powerful storm occurs during one of the Sun's most active periods, it could trigger an Internet apocalypse.

"The Internet came of age when the Sun was relatively calm, and now it's entering a more active period," the scientist explained, adding that the Sun is entering the most violent period of its 11-year cycle.

According to him, it is alarming that there is an intersection of increased solar activity with our global economic and social dependence on the Internet for the first time in human history.

Although Becker's statements may sound rather pessimistic, people already know examples of solar flares causing damage on Earth. We are talking about the Carrington event, which occurred in 1859. The telegraph system was disrupted and operators were electrocuted.

However, there is no need to panic now. Becker is not just stirring up panic. Together with his team, the scientist is working on an early warning system that will allow the world to be prepared for a possible solar strike.

In particular, if we know that a very powerful solar flare is approaching, it will be possible to "switch satellites to safe mode" or "disconnect transformers from the power grid so that they do not burn out."

But predicting when these storms will hit the Earth's orbit and atmosphere is still extremely difficult, and Becker compares it to the challenges of predicting earthquakes.

"The period from 2024 to 2028 is a time when the entire Internet could be out of service for a few weeks to a few months in the event of a really extreme solar flare," the scientist warned.

He suggests that such an emergency would have serious consequences around the world, plunging it into a "global recession."

Earlier, OBOZ.UA reported that the Sun could reach a dangerous peak earlier than scientists thought.

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