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

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

Quebec, Kanada - The world was recently made aware of an enormous mass outline of the sun. In the night of Saturday, June 1, 2025, the foothills of this solar storm met the earth. Christian Mähr, an author and scientist, illuminates the potential effects of solar storms that can cause significant damage to the modern infrastructure. These storms could, for example, lead to melting wires, failing radio networks and, in the worst case, at costs in billions in billions, as Krone reports.

The historical "Carrington event" of 1859 is often used as an example of the devastating consequences of such events. This event, observed by the British astronomer Richard Carrington, saw a coronal mass ejection that reached the earth at a speed of 2000 km/s, just 18 hours after its eruption. This storm brought the Northern Lights to the Caribbean and West Africa to visibility and partially led to a collapse of the telegraph network due to the scattered wires. Regardless of the dramatic nature of these incidents, the overall effects for that time were comparatively limited.

modern risks and preparations

Events today could have more serious consequences, especially because the technology has grown strongly since then. On February 14, 2023, the earth had already experienced one of the largest sun eruptions in the past four years, which, however, had to be classified as moderate and only disturbed radio communication and GPS signals for long-haul flights. However, experts expect that solar activity will continue to increase in the coming years, which will increase the risks of the modern infrastructure, such as [National Geographic] (https://www.nationalgeographic.de/wissenschaft/was-wuerde-passieren-heute-der-groessturm-aller-or

Tom Bogdan, director of the Space Weather Prediction Center, described the solar activity cycle as comparable to hurricane season, which illustrates the unpredictability and potential damage. If an event such as the Carrington event occurs today, the effects on satellite communication, GPS systems and power supply networks would possibly be catastrophic. In this situation, damage caused by power failures could add up to $ 1 to $ 2 trillion, while smaller solar storms can also cause considerable disorders.

protective measures and research

Research on solar towers has gained in importance. Research institutes use advanced technologies to develop early warning systems that help minimize the effects of solar storms. According to TechZeitgeist, institutions such as the Max Planck Institute for solar system research and the TU Graz intensively work on the analysis of solar activity and the effects of the sunwind Earth magnetic field.

innovations such as AI-controlled models are used to recognize patterns in data and pronounce early warnings. Such technologies could help protect critical infrastructures better, for example, by switching off or redirecting transformers from the penetrating storm particles. The dependence of modern society of technology makes these protective measures more urgent than ever to counter the dangers of solar storms in the future.