Space weather can cause both beautiful auroras and infrastructure challenges – 5 essential reads on protecting life and technology
A massive solar flare could seriously disrupt life on Earth – but new NASA missions and others in development will help monitor the Sun.
Space weather is a phenomenon caused by particles and eruptions from the Sun. While most days the Sun appears constant, its surface is actually quite active. NASA's Parker Solar Probe can capture charged gas called solar flares and dramatic explosions called coronal mass ejections as they travel through space. These events sometimes interact with Earth's magnetic field, leading to space weather.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is currently monitoring several coronal mass ejections that could result in a minor geomagnetic storm on Earth. This could potentially cause northern lights to be visible in Canada and the northern United States on September 9, 2026.
Space weather can both be beautiful and destructive. When solar flares and coronal mass ejections reach Earth, they interact with our planet's magnetic field, causing geomagnetic storms or auroras. These events can also increase drag on satellites, disrupting their communication with Earth. Moreover, space weather can cause GPS positioning errors, which are critical for many industries like aviation, maritime, robotics, transportation, farming, military, and more.
Historically, a large solar flare in 1859 outshone the Sun itself, shorting out telegraph lines and causing bright auroras. Modern technology depends heavily on GPS and power grids, which could be severely disrupted by a strong enough space weather event. Scientists must monitor the Sun in real time to reduce or reroute electricity when a coronal mass ejection approaches, preventing potential grid collapse.
Written by urgent.news from The Conversation's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
