The Potential Devastation of Solar Storms: What Could Happen to Earth?

Can you fathom a world without the internet or phone connectivity? The mere thought of an internet apocalypse is terrifying! A life devoid of internet would resemble the harsh and brief existence of ancient Roman times. Without internet or phone calls, emergency services would be inaccessible, and the mammoth infrastructure built upon electricity grids, hospitals, industries, and more would cease to function. In the modern era, our dependence on electronics is profound, making life without the internet incredibly challenging. Just envision enduring the COVID-19 lockdown without internet access!

But could an internet apocalypse really happen? Yeah! It certainly can, but no official statement or warning has been issued by NASA or any other organization. But scientists have done in-depth research based on data from the latest technological asset that humanity has on Earth and in space.

An internet apocalypse could be caused by a really powerful solar storm that hit Earth. It almost happened in 2012 when a solar storm came really close to Earth. Luckily it was missed.

What is causing the internet apocalypse? Sun. Our star is very volatile and is constantly shooting huge amounts of energy into space. These are in the form of solar storms (solar flare, CME, solar wind). The sun is currently in an 11-year cycle and is moving towards solar maximum, which could be in 2024 or 2025. Many believe that our interconnected virtual world is not ready for a truly powerful solar storm along the lines of the 1859 Carrington. an event that even caused telegraph equipment to spontaneously combust. In 1989, another solar storm knocked out Quebec’s power grid for hours

During solar maximum, a severe solar storm can occur in one day, which can threaten our satellites and disrupt radio signals, the Internet, and cause power outages.

There have been a few rare events in the past where solar storms have struck and what are the consequences.

Sangeetha Abdu Jyothi, a researcher at the University of California, Irvine, has pointed out that the undersea cables that carry most of our Internet traffic are vulnerable to solar storms. If they fall, it takes months to fix them. It will cause a global catastrophe.