Page last updated at 08:54 GMT, Sunday, 30 August 2009 09:54 UK
Space scientist Dr Maggie Adairin-Pocock explains how powerful explosions on the sun's surface could cause widespread damage to communications systems on Earth.
The last time this happened on a massive scale was 150 years ago when the Great Solar Flare - as it was known - took out the telegraph system.
The next severe solar explosion is supposed to occur in 2359.
However Dr Adairin-Pocock said the sun goes through a number of different cycles and smaller explosions tend to take place every 11 years.
She said that in 1989, a solar flare managed to "take out" power stations in Quebec and since technology has advanced at a rapid rate, the communications system would be more at risk now
No comments:
Post a Comment