Watching the Northern Lights paint the sky with vibrant colors is a breathtaking experience. However, the charged particles from the Sun that create this aurora can sometimes trigger rare but severe disruptions on Earth.
Intense solar storms can affect satellites, electricity grids, and even air travel. For instance, in October 2025, a JetBlue Airbus A320 flying from Cancun to Newark suddenly dropped in altitude due to space weather interference. Fifteen passengers were hospitalized, and Airbus had to ground over 6,000 planes for software updates to prevent further incidents.
Governments are aware of these risks. The UK’s National Risk Register lists severe space weather alongside nuclear incidents, terrorist attacks, and pandemics. The 1859 Carrington Event remains a key example of the dangers solar storms pose. Telegraphs at the time experienced sparks and shocks, and some could even send messages without batteries. Today, with our dependence on technology, a similar event could be catastrophic.
Satellites are particularly vulnerable. Strong solar storms expand the Earth’s atmosphere, increasing drag and sometimes causing satellites to fall back to Earth. In February 2022, 38 satellites were lost due to such a storm. Disruptions to GPS and radio communications could create citywide traffic gridlocks and affect aviation safety.
Power grids are also at risk. In March 1989, Quebec experienced a nine-hour blackout after a solar storm, leaving millions without electricity and heat.
Although a Carrington-class event is rare, it could happen again. In July 2012, a massive solar flare narrowly missed Earth. Research suggests events even larger than the Carrington Event—known as Miyake events—could strike, potentially impacting global society on an unprecedented scale.
With the Sun constantly sending out bursts of energy, understanding and preparing for solar storms is crucial to protect our modern infrastructure.
