Solar storm threatens: This is how it endangers our technology and infrastructure!

Solar storm threatens: This is how it endangers our technology and infrastructure!

Recently, the world was made aware of an enormous mass ejection from the Sun. On the night of Saturday, June 1, 2025, the tails of this solar storm hit Earth. Christian Mähr, an author and natural scientist, sheds light on the potential impacts of solar storms, which can cause significant damage to modern infrastructure. These storms could, for example, lead to melting wires, failing wireless networks and, in the worst case, costs running into billions, as Krone reports.

The historic “Carrington Event” of 1859 is often used as an example of the devastating consequences of such events. This event, observed by British astronomer Richard Carrington, saw a coronal mass ejection reaching Earth at a speed of 2000 km/s, just 18 hours after its eruption. This storm made aurora visible as far away as the Caribbean and West Africa and led to a partial collapse of the telegraph network due to scorching wires. Despite the dramatic nature of these incidents, the overall impact was comparatively limited for the time.

Modern risks and preparations

Similar events today could have more serious consequences, especially because technology has grown significantly since then. On February 14, 2023, the Earth experienced one of the largest solar flares in the last four years, which, however, had to be classified as moderate and only disrupted radio communications and GPS signals for long-haul flights. However, experts expect solar activity to continue to increase in the coming years, increasing risks to modern infrastructure, as National Geographic notes.

Tom Bogdan, director of the Space Weather Prediction Center, described the solar activity cycle as comparable to hurricane seasons, highlighting the unpredictability and potential damage. If an event like the Carrington event were to occur again today, the impact on satellite communications, GPS systems and power grids would be potentially catastrophic. Damage from power outages in this situation could add up to $1 trillion to $2 trillion, while smaller solar storms can also cause significant disruption.

Protective measures and research

Research on solar storms has become increasingly important. Research institutes are using advanced technologies to develop early warning systems that help minimize the impact of solar storms. According to Techzeitgeist, institutions such as the Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research and Graz University of Technology are working intensively on analyzing solar activity and the effects of the solar wind on the Earth's magnetic field.

Innovations such as AI-driven models are being used to identify patterns in data and provide early warnings. Such technologies could help better protect critical infrastructure, for example by switching off or rerouting transformers from incoming storm particles. Modern society's reliance on technology makes these protective measures more urgent than ever to address the dangers of solar storms in the future.