Solar storm could cause ‘internet outage’ in 2024

solar storm There may be a “blackout” on the world’s internet in 2024. This phenomenon was predicted by George Mason University researcher Peter Becker (Virginia, United States), author of the solar activity detection system.

“The Internet matured during a period when the sun was relatively calm, and is now entering a more active period,” the researcher said, according to the Inside Paper website. In the scientist’s opinion, we are more dependent on the Internet than ever before, and this will be a serious problem in the event of a power outage.

The professor’s concern is that coronal mass ejections (CMEs) (large explosions of ionized gas at high temperatures) will reach Earth and disrupt the planet’s magnetic field.

The initial forecast was that the increase in solar activity would occur in July 2025, but Becker He found that a more severe storm will occur next year.

To prevent the threat, the researcher is collaborating on a project with the Navy Research Laboratory and George Mason University to develop an alert mechanism.

“If we get an alert, every minute counts because you can put the satellites into safe mode,” the scientist told Fox Weather. “So there are things you can do to alleviate the problem,” he added.

It is possible for the Sun’s coronal mass ejection to travel into space, but if it targets Earth, local sensors will have 18 to 24 hours to detect the particles before they interfere with the magnetic field.

Other important systems for humanity, e.g. The electrical grid, fiber optic cables, GPS navigation system and communication satellites may also be affected by this event.

Solar storms are common

Such coronal field eruptions occur from time to time on the Sun. One of the most recent events was in February of this year when a NASA probe detected more than 28 CMEs.

This time the explosion was towards Earth but did not damage communications systems. However, the northern lights have become more intense, colorful and visible in the US cities of Idaho and New York.