Solar Flare Frenzy: Earth's Brush with the Biggest Geomagnetic Storm in 20 Years
This episode of SpaceTime explores the recent surge in solar activity, including the largest solar flare of the year and the most intense geomagnetic storm in two decades.
Massive Solar Flare and Its Implications
We delve into the details of a powerful X 2.7 class solar flare that erupted from a newly active sunspot region, AR14087. Although the flare was not initially directed towards Earth, its rotation has now positioned it directly in our path. We discuss the mechanics of solar flares, their classification, and the potential impacts of such events on our planet, including disruptions to communication systems, satellite operations, and even power grids.
The Gannon Storm: A Historic Geomagnetic Event
The episode highlights the Gannon Storm, a severe geomagnetic storm that struck Earth on May 10, 2024. Coinciding with a space weather exercise, this event caused significant disruptions, including high voltage power line failures and rerouted flights due to radiation exposure. We analyze its effects on the atmosphere, satellites, and even the ionosphere, revealing insights into how such storms can impact modern technology.
Ancient Solar Storms and Their Modern Implications
In a fascinating segment, we discuss a groundbreaking study that identifies the strongest solar storm ever recorded, dating back to 12350 BCE. This ancient event, significantly more intense than any modern storm, provides invaluable data for understanding solar activity and its potential risks to contemporary infrastructure.
Science Robert: Long Work Hours and Brain Changes
We also touch on a new study revealing how long working hours could alter brain structures, potentially affecting memory and emotional regulation.Join us as we unpack these cosmic phenomena and their implications for life on Earth and beyond.
www.spacetimewithstuartgary.com
✍️ Episode References
Journal of Occupational Environmental Medicine
https://journals.lww.com/joem/Pages/default.aspx
Become a supporter of this podcast:
https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/spacetime-space-astronomy--2458531/support
.
00:00 Solar flares are powerful blasts of energy erupting from sunspots
10:30 May 2024 was the biggest geomagnetic storm in over 20 years
14:29 New study reveals strongest solar event ever recorded, rewriting science on space weather
18:23 A new study claims people who work long hours could have altered brain structures
The Astronomy, Space, Technology & Science News Podcast.
00:00:00,288 --> 00:00:04,371
This is Space Time Series 28
Episode 61 for broadcast on the
2
00:00:04,792 --> 00:00:06,473
21st of May 2025.
3
00:00:07,134 --> 00:00:10,656
Coming up on Space Time, the
biggest solar flare this year,
4
00:00:11,357 --> 00:00:15,300
the biggest geomagnetic storm in
the past 20 years, and the most
5
00:00:15,380 --> 00:00:18,082
extreme solar storm known to
have hit the Earth.
6
00:00:18,843 --> 00:00:21,805
All that and more coming up on
Space Time.
7
00:00:23,186 --> 00:00:26,249
Welcome to Space Time with
Stuart Gary.
8
00:00:42,560 --> 00:00:45,501
Well, we've just experienced the
largest solar flare so far this
9
00:00:45,561 --> 00:00:50,184
year, producing an X2.7 class
event. The massive eruption
10
00:00:50,364 --> 00:00:53,587
emanated from a newly appeared
active sunspot region catalogued
11
00:00:53,607 --> 00:00:54,087
is AR-14087.
12
00:00:56,384 --> 00:00:59,426
It's one of two X-class flares
and several smaller M-class
13
00:00:59,486 --> 00:01:01,628
events, all coming from the same
region.
14
00:01:02,488 --> 00:01:05,310
Luckily, they weren't pointed
directly towards the Earth,
15
00:01:05,610 --> 00:01:08,812
leaving the planet on the outer
edge of the strike zone. But of
16
00:01:08,852 --> 00:01:11,854
course that's now changed, as
this active region has now
17
00:01:11,934 --> 00:01:14,116
rotated to directly face the
Earth.
18
00:01:14,796 --> 00:01:18,238
The event happened as the Sun
reaches solar maximum, the
19
00:01:18,278 --> 00:01:20,420
climax of its 11-year solar
cycle.
20
00:01:21,160 --> 00:01:24,841
Solar flares are powerful blasts
of energy erupting from sunspots
21
00:01:24,961 --> 00:01:26,102
on the Sun's surface.
22
00:01:26,862 --> 00:01:29,783
Sunspots are slightly cooler
regions on the Sun's surface,
23
00:01:29,784 --> 00:01:32,763
the photosphere, caused by
magnetic field lines from deep
24
00:01:32,823 --> 00:01:36,224
inside the Sun breaking through
the surface and looping out into
25
00:01:36,305 --> 00:01:36,825
space.
26
00:01:37,505 --> 00:01:40,646
Now because the Sun is fluid
rather than solid, different
27
00:01:40,726 --> 00:01:43,907
latitudes rotate at different
rates. And this causes the
28
00:01:43,908 --> 00:01:46,147
magnetic field lines to twist
and snap.
29
00:01:46,908 --> 00:01:49,989
When they reconnect... Process
called magnetic reconnection, it
30
00:01:50,009 --> 00:01:52,950
triggers powerful explosions
near the surface known as solar
31
00:01:53,010 --> 00:01:53,590
flares.
32
00:01:54,331 --> 00:01:57,632
Solar flares are classified
according to their strength. The
33
00:01:57,672 --> 00:02:01,493
smallest ones are B-class, that
's followed by C, then M, and
34
00:02:01,494 --> 00:02:04,955
the largest are X-class flares.
It's similar to the Richter
35
00:02:05,015 --> 00:02:07,896
scale used for earthquakes, with
each letter representing a
36
00:02:08,236 --> 00:02:10,617
10-fold logarithmic increase in
energy output.
37
00:02:11,377 --> 00:02:15,219
So, an X-class flare is 10 times
as strong as an M-class flare,
38
00:02:15,379 --> 00:02:17,640
and 100 times as strong as a
C-class flay.
39
00:02:18,336 --> 00:02:21,839
Within each letter class, there
's a finer scale from 1 to 9.
40
00:02:22,499 --> 00:02:25,922
C-class flares are too weak to
noticeably affect the Earth, but
41
00:02:26,102 --> 00:02:29,785
M-class flares can cause brief
radio blackouts at the poles and
42
00:02:29,825 --> 00:02:33,428
minor radiation storms that
could endanger people in space.
43
00:02:34,229 --> 00:02:36,971
Although X is the last letter,
these flares can have more than
44
00:02:37,051 --> 00:02:40,614
10 times the power of an X-1
class, so they can go much
45
00:02:40,714 --> 00:02:41,575
higher than an X-9.
46
00:02:42,856 --> 00:02:46,459
The most powerful flare on
record was back in 2003 during
47
00:02:46,479 --> 00:02:50,149
the last solar maximum. In fact,
it was so powerful it overloaded
48
00:02:50,150 --> 00:02:54,011
the sensors measuring it. They
cut out at X17, and the flare
49
00:02:54,031 --> 00:02:55,911
was later estimated to be about
at X45.
50
00:02:57,532 --> 00:03:00,534
A powerful X-class flare like
that can create long-lasting
51
00:03:00,614 --> 00:03:03,935
radiation storms, which can harm
and even destroy satellites,
52
00:03:04,235 --> 00:03:06,696
give airline passengers flying
near the poles dose of
53
00:03:06,736 --> 00:03:09,678
radiation, scramble
communication and navigation
54
00:03:09,758 --> 00:03:13,359
systems, and even overload power
grids, causing widespread
55
00:03:13,419 --> 00:03:14,640
blackouts on the ground.
56
00:03:15,248 --> 00:03:17,950
The most powerful solar flares
can trigger coronal mass
57
00:03:18,010 --> 00:03:21,393
ejections, huge blasts of the
Sun's material, including
58
00:03:21,434 --> 00:03:24,516
protons, electrons, magnetic
field and helium nuclei.
59
00:03:25,217 --> 00:03:28,620
Now our current solar cycle,
number 25, began back in
60
00:03:28,640 --> 00:03:32,744
December 2019 and so should be
reaching solar max around now.
61
00:03:33,504 --> 00:03:37,268
This is when the Sun reaches its
most violent phase, with lots of
62
00:03:37,308 --> 00:03:40,130
sunspot activity and
consequently lots of solar
63
00:03:40,190 --> 00:03:43,096
flares and coronal mass
ejections. The number of
64
00:03:43,116 --> 00:03:46,699
sunspots are predicted to reach
a peak of around 115 by July
65
00:03:46,759 --> 00:03:50,262
this year, making the current
solar cycle weaker than average
66
00:03:50,382 --> 00:03:53,064
and only slightly more active
than the previous solar cycle
67
00:03:53,085 --> 00:03:54,766
24.
68
00:03:54,786 --> 00:03:57,688
During each of these roughly
11-year solar cycles, the Sun's
69
00:03:57,768 --> 00:04:00,931
magnetic field flips in
polarity. North Pole becomes
70
00:04:00,991 --> 00:04:04,794
South and South Pole North. And
this flip occurs when the solar
71
00:04:04,834 --> 00:04:08,117
cycle reaches solar minimum,
with the next flip probably
72
00:04:08,197 --> 00:04:09,898
occurring around 2030.
73
00:04:10,739 --> 00:04:12,140
This is Space Time.
74
00:04:12,808 --> 00:04:16,031
Still to come, the biggest
geomagnetic storm in 20 years,
75
00:04:16,232 --> 00:04:19,335
and the most extreme solar storm
ever known to have hit the
76
00:04:19,395 --> 00:04:22,999
Earth. All that and more still
to come on Space Time.
77
00:04:39,148 --> 00:04:42,192
While spectacular, the most
recent geomagnetic storm events
78
00:04:42,232 --> 00:04:45,075
we've seen pale into
insignificance when compared to
79
00:04:45,076 --> 00:04:47,959
the solar storm that hit the
Earth just a year ago, which has
80
00:04:47,999 --> 00:04:51,122
now officially been listed as
the biggest in 20 years.
81
00:04:52,324 --> 00:04:56,228
Amazingly, that event coincided
with the inaugural space weather
82
00:04:56,308 --> 00:05:00,104
tabletop exercise. The exercise
was meant to be a training event
83
00:05:00,204 --> 00:05:03,327
where experts could work through
real-time ramifications of a
84
00:05:03,367 --> 00:05:06,430
major geomagnetic storm, a
global disruption to Earth's
85
00:05:06,470 --> 00:05:07,390
magnetic field.
86
00:05:07,991 --> 00:05:10,874
Now, as we mentioned earlier,
geomagnetic storms can decimate
87
00:05:10,954 --> 00:05:13,856
satellites, overload electrical
power grids, and expose
88
00:05:13,996 --> 00:05:17,900
astronauts to dangerous levels
of radiation. So minimizing the
89
00:05:18,000 --> 00:05:21,964
impact of such storms requires
close coordination, and so this
90
00:05:22,044 --> 00:05:24,226
meeting was a chance for
scientists to practice.
91
00:05:24,882 --> 00:05:29,083
But then their simulation turned
into reality. The director of
92
00:05:29,103 --> 00:05:32,424
NASA's Space Weather Program,
Jamie Favors, says the plan was
93
00:05:32,444 --> 00:05:35,725
to run through a hypothetical
scenario, finding where existing
94
00:05:35,765 --> 00:05:39,286
processes worked and where they
needed improving. But then this
95
00:05:39,326 --> 00:05:42,187
hypothetical scenario was
interrupted by the real thing.
96
00:05:43,307 --> 00:05:48,429
On May 10, 2024, the first G5 or
severe geomagnetic storm in more
97
00:05:48,430 --> 00:05:52,010
than two decades hit planet
Earth. The event, named the
98
00:05:52,050 --> 00:05:54,591
Gannon Storm, me. In memory of
the leading space weather
99
00:05:54,651 --> 00:05:57,532
physicist Jennifer Gannon,
didn't cause any catastrophic
100
00:05:57,592 --> 00:06:01,214
damages. But a year on, key
insights into the Gannon Storm
101
00:06:01,335 --> 00:06:03,576
are helping scientists
understand and prepare for
102
00:06:03,636 --> 00:06:05,137
future geomagnetic events.
103
00:06:05,797 --> 00:06:09,379
The Gannon Storm had effects
both on and off our planet. On
104
00:06:09,380 --> 00:06:11,800
the ground, some high-voltage
power lines tripped,
105
00:06:11,960 --> 00:06:15,803
transformers overheated, and
GPS-guided tractors veered off
106
00:06:15,923 --> 00:06:18,824
course in the Midwest United
States, further disrupting
107
00:06:18,884 --> 00:06:21,806
spring planting that had already
been delayed by heavy rains.
108
00:06:22,478 --> 00:06:25,499
In the air, the threat of high
radiation exposure, as well as
109
00:06:25,519 --> 00:06:28,260
communications and navigation
losses, forced numerous
110
00:06:28,320 --> 00:06:32,262
transatlantic and transpacific
flights to change course. During
111
00:06:32,263 --> 00:06:34,763
the storm, Earth's upper
atmospheric layer, the
112
00:06:34,823 --> 00:06:37,364
thermosphere, heated to
unusually high temperatures.
113
00:06:38,064 --> 00:06:41,106
In fact, at 160 kilometers in
altitude, the temperature, which
114
00:06:41,186 --> 00:06:44,967
typically peaks at around 650
degrees Celsius, surpassed over
115
00:06:45,067 --> 00:06:47,008
1,150 degrees.
116
00:06:47,768 --> 00:06:51,230
NASA's Global Scale Observations
of the Lemon Disk, or GOLD,
117
00:06:51,310 --> 00:06:54,071
mission observed the atmosphere
expanding from the heat
118
00:06:54,171 --> 00:06:57,592
generated to create a strong
wind that lofted heavy nitrogen
119
00:06:57,632 --> 00:06:59,632
particles much higher into
space.
120
00:07:00,473 --> 00:07:03,293
In orbit, the expanded
atmosphere increased drag on
121
00:07:03,413 --> 00:07:04,714
thousands of satellites.
122
00:07:05,394 --> 00:07:09,295
NASA's ICESat-2 lost altitude
and wound up entering safe mode,
123
00:07:09,435 --> 00:07:12,136
while NASA's Colorado
interradiation-built experiment
124
00:07:12,196 --> 00:07:14,977
CubeSat was forced to de-orbit
prematurely.
125
00:07:15,697 --> 00:07:18,638
Other spacecraft, such as the
European Space Agency Sentinel
126
00:07:18,698 --> 00:07:21,919
mission, required more power to
maintain their orbital altitude,
127
00:07:22,019 --> 00:07:24,380
and they were forced to perform
maneuvers to avoid collisions
128
00:07:24,400 --> 00:07:27,761
with space debris. The storm
also dramatically changed the
129
00:07:27,801 --> 00:07:29,481
structure of the Earth's
ionosphere.
130
00:07:30,061 --> 00:07:32,942
A dense zone of the ionosphere
that normally covers the equator
131
00:07:32,962 --> 00:07:36,183
at night dipped downwards
towards the South Pole, forming
132
00:07:36,184 --> 00:07:39,344
a sort of checkmark shape and
causing a temporary gap near the
133
00:07:39,364 --> 00:07:43,165
equator. The Gannon Storm also
rocked Earth's magnetosphere,
134
00:07:43,265 --> 00:07:45,206
the magnetic bubble that
surrounds the planet.
135
00:07:45,874 --> 00:07:49,796
Data from NASA missions MMS and
Thermos Artemis saw giant
136
00:07:49,856 --> 00:07:53,217
curling waves of particles in
rolled-up magnetic fields along
137
00:07:53,257 --> 00:07:56,599
the edge of the coronal mass
ejections. And these waves were
138
00:07:56,619 --> 00:08:00,060
perfectly sized to periodically
dump extra magnetic energy and
139
00:08:00,100 --> 00:08:03,601
mass into the magnetosphere upon
impact, in the process creating
140
00:08:03,602 --> 00:08:06,323
the largest electrical current
seen in the magnetosphere in 20
141
00:08:06,403 --> 00:08:06,843
years.
142
00:08:07,603 --> 00:08:10,864
Incoming energy and particles
from the Sun also created two
143
00:08:10,924 --> 00:08:13,506
new temporary belts of energetic
particles within the
144
00:08:13,507 --> 00:08:17,083
magnetosphere. These belts
formed between the existing Van
145
00:08:17,163 --> 00:08:19,885
Allen radiation belts which
permanently surround the Earth.
146
00:08:20,445 --> 00:08:23,367
The storm also ignited auroral
activity around the globe,
147
00:08:23,527 --> 00:08:26,028
including at lower latitudes
where these celestial light
148
00:08:26,048 --> 00:08:29,590
shows are rare. NASA's
Aurorasaurus project was flooded
149
00:08:29,630 --> 00:08:33,192
with more than 6,000 observer
reports from over 55 countries
150
00:08:33,273 --> 00:08:34,733
on all seven continents.
151
00:08:35,414 --> 00:08:37,955
Photographers helped scientists
better understand why the
152
00:08:38,035 --> 00:08:41,417
aurorae observed throughout
Japan were magenta rather than
153
00:08:41,437 --> 00:08:44,674
the typical red in colour.
Researchers studied hundreds of
154
00:08:44,694 --> 00:08:47,915
photos and found that the
aurorae were surprisingly high,
155
00:08:48,095 --> 00:08:51,476
around 1,000 kilometers above
the ground. That's around 320
156
00:08:51,536 --> 00:08:54,117
kilometers higher than red
aurorae typically appear.
157
00:08:54,877 --> 00:08:57,718
In a paper published in the
journal Scientific Reports, the
158
00:08:57,738 --> 00:09:01,079
authors found the peculiar color
of the aurorae likely resulted
159
00:09:01,099 --> 00:09:04,320
from a mix of red and blue
aurorae, produced by oxygen and
160
00:09:04,321 --> 00:09:07,601
nitrogen molecules lofted higher
than usual as the Gannon Storm
161
00:09:07,721 --> 00:09:09,861
heated and expanded the upper
atmosphere.
162
00:09:10,561 --> 00:09:13,222
And impacts of the Sun's
amped-up solar activity didn't
163
00:09:13,362 --> 00:09:14,503
end in Earth space.
164
00:09:15,184 --> 00:09:17,926
The solar region that sparked
the Ganon storm eventually
165
00:09:17,986 --> 00:09:21,388
rotated away from our planet and
redirected its outburst towards
166
00:09:21,408 --> 00:09:22,529
the planet Mars.
167
00:09:23,290 --> 00:09:25,672
As energetic particles from the
Sun struck the Martian
168
00:09:25,752 --> 00:09:29,154
atmosphere, NASA's MAVEN orbiter
watched the aurora engulf the
169
00:09:29,174 --> 00:09:33,398
red planet from May 14 through
to the 20th. And solar particles
170
00:09:33,498 --> 00:09:36,640
overwhelmed the star camera on
NASA's Mars Odyssey orbiter,
171
00:09:36,780 --> 00:09:39,022
causing the camera to cut out
for almost an hour.
172
00:09:39,762 --> 00:09:42,205
Meanwhile, down on the Martian
surface, images from the
173
00:09:42,225 --> 00:09:45,268
navigation cameras on NASA's
Curiosity rover were freckled
174
00:09:45,288 --> 00:09:48,871
with snow, streaks and specks
caused by the charged particles.
175
00:09:49,432 --> 00:09:52,475
Curiosity's Radiation Assessment
Detector recorded the biggest
176
00:09:52,515 --> 00:09:55,498
surge of radiation since the
rover landed on the red planet
177
00:09:55,538 --> 00:09:58,041
Mars' Gale Crater back in 2012.
178
00:09:58,829 --> 00:10:01,570
Had astronauts been there, they
would have received a radiation
179
00:10:01,650 --> 00:10:06,191
dose of around 8,100 micrograys.
That's equivalent to some 30
180
00:10:06,291 --> 00:10:10,732
chest X-rays. The Gannon Storm
spread aurorae to unusually low
181
00:10:10,832 --> 00:10:11,593
latitudes.
182
00:10:11,673 --> 00:10:14,193
In fact, it's been called the
best documented geomagnetic
183
00:10:14,273 --> 00:10:17,514
storm in history. And the data
captured during this historic
184
00:10:17,594 --> 00:10:20,375
event will continue to be
analysed for years to come,
185
00:10:20,695 --> 00:10:24,096
revealing new lessons about the
nature of geomagnetic storms and
186
00:10:24,116 --> 00:10:25,437
how best to weather them.
187
00:10:26,317 --> 00:10:28,118
This report... From NASA TV.
188
00:10:30,419 --> 00:10:35,363
In May 2024, a spectacular
multicolored light show flooded
189
00:10:35,383 --> 00:10:39,226
the skies across the world.
These displays are known as the
190
00:10:39,266 --> 00:10:39,926
auroras.
191
00:10:40,647 --> 00:10:44,550
They're usually seen near the
polar regions, but that May, sky
192
00:10:44,590 --> 00:10:48,033
watchers spotted the glowing
lights far from Earth's poles.
193
00:10:49,053 --> 00:10:52,576
People were witnessing the
biggest geomagnetic storm in
194
00:10:52,656 --> 00:10:53,837
over 20 years.
195
00:10:54,525 --> 00:10:57,886
This storm was so intense. It
was the most intense in two
196
00:10:57,926 --> 00:11:00,667
decades. This was one of those
large events that we've been
197
00:11:00,707 --> 00:11:02,087
talking about for years.
198
00:11:03,127 --> 00:11:05,768
It all began from this active
region on the Sun.
199
00:11:06,588 --> 00:11:09,949
Active regions are known for
having intense magnetic fields.
200
00:11:10,489 --> 00:11:13,410
And the more tangled those
fields become, the more likely
201
00:11:13,490 --> 00:11:14,410
they are to erupt.
202
00:11:15,151 --> 00:11:19,872
We watched the active region
evolve, and we thought that this
203
00:11:19,932 --> 00:11:22,273
might be something to watch and
might be something active.
204
00:11:23,233 --> 00:11:27,187
Eventually, The active region
unleashed a chain of huge solar
205
00:11:27,227 --> 00:11:29,329
eruptions directly towards us.
206
00:11:30,269 --> 00:11:33,972
What made it so strong was the
fact that there was so much
207
00:11:34,092 --> 00:11:38,035
energy put off by the Sun. It
was really great conditions for
208
00:11:38,036 --> 00:11:38,715
the perfect storm.
209
00:11:39,736 --> 00:11:43,318
On May 10th, the eruptions
reached Earth, triggering a
210
00:11:43,378 --> 00:11:46,881
global disruption to Earth's
magnetic field, known as a
211
00:11:47,021 --> 00:11:48,262
geomagnetic storm.
212
00:11:49,242 --> 00:11:54,050
It was rated a G5, the rarest
and strongest type. The powerful
213
00:11:54,130 --> 00:11:58,514
storm pushed auroras to appear
in unusual places like Arizona
214
00:11:58,554 --> 00:12:01,317
in the United States and Perth
in Australia.
215
00:12:02,218 --> 00:12:06,061
That energy interacted with the
Earth and created the aurora and
216
00:12:06,182 --> 00:12:09,645
caused all sorts of disturbances
that we felt here on the ground.
217
00:12:10,286 --> 00:12:13,689
The storm caused some high
voltage lines to trip and
218
00:12:13,729 --> 00:12:17,613
transformers to overheat.
Transatlantic flights rerouted.
219
00:12:18,101 --> 00:12:21,904
Due to risks of high radiation
exposure and communication and
220
00:12:21,905 --> 00:12:23,165
navigation disruptions.
221
00:12:24,145 --> 00:12:27,928
Farther up, NASA saw Earth's
upper atmosphere get unusually
222
00:12:28,008 --> 00:12:28,288
hot.
223
00:12:28,989 --> 00:12:32,972
The temperature 100 miles up in
the thermosphere usually peaks
224
00:12:33,052 --> 00:12:37,735
at 1,200 degrees Fahrenheit, but
during the storm it reached
225
00:12:37,736 --> 00:12:40,037
2,100 degrees Fahrenheit.
226
00:12:40,858 --> 00:12:44,080
The heating caused the
atmosphere to expand, which
227
00:12:44,160 --> 00:12:45,221
affected satellites.
228
00:12:46,029 --> 00:12:49,090
There were thousands of
satellites that had to move
229
00:12:49,091 --> 00:12:51,591
their orbits because the storm
was coming through.
230
00:12:52,551 --> 00:12:56,712
The storm also affected the
space beyond Earth. It created
231
00:12:56,872 --> 00:13:00,373
two new temporary belts of
energetic particles around our
232
00:13:00,393 --> 00:13:04,554
planet, adding to Earth's two
permanent ones, which are known
233
00:13:04,714 --> 00:13:07,015
as the Van Allen radiation
belts.
234
00:13:07,695 --> 00:13:10,896
The particles in these belts can
harm orbiting satellites and
235
00:13:11,016 --> 00:13:14,617
astronauts heading for deep
space. So NASA studies them
236
00:13:14,677 --> 00:13:15,037
closely.
237
00:13:16,253 --> 00:13:19,915
As the Sun rotated, the active
region eventually moved away
238
00:13:19,975 --> 00:13:23,416
from Earth and redirected its
outbursts towards Mars.
239
00:13:24,217 --> 00:13:28,058
On Mars, NASA's Curiosity rover
saw solar particles from the
240
00:13:28,118 --> 00:13:32,620
storm. The rover also recorded
the biggest surge of radiation
241
00:13:32,801 --> 00:13:36,522
since it landed in 2012. If an
astronaut had been on the
242
00:13:36,542 --> 00:13:39,704
Martian surface, they would have
received a radiation dose
243
00:13:39,764 --> 00:13:42,565
equivalent to 30 chest X-rays at
once.
244
00:13:44,145 --> 00:13:47,627
With spacecraft throughout the
solar system and modern cameras
245
00:13:47,628 --> 00:13:50,569
in so many people's pockets, the
storm was the most
246
00:13:50,709 --> 00:13:52,330
well-documented in history.
247
00:13:53,270 --> 00:13:56,952
There's lots of data. We're able
to actually use that data to
248
00:13:57,092 --> 00:14:00,074
understand things and predict
more and more how this is going
249
00:14:00,075 --> 00:14:00,874
to affect our Earth.
250
00:14:01,735 --> 00:14:05,177
Although the storm passed within
days, NASA will continue to
251
00:14:05,257 --> 00:14:09,059
learn from the observations for
years to come, helping us better
252
00:14:09,079 --> 00:14:11,040
prepare for the next big storm.
253
00:14:11,240 --> 00:14:13,802
And in that report from NASA TV.
We heard from NASA
254
00:14:13,902 --> 00:14:15,784
heliophysicist Kelly Korek.
255
00:14:16,484 --> 00:14:20,768
This is Space Time. Still to
come, the most extreme solar
256
00:14:20,808 --> 00:14:23,691
storm ever known to have hit the
Earth, and later in the science
257
00:14:23,751 --> 00:14:27,475
report, a new study claims
people who work long hours could
258
00:14:27,515 --> 00:14:31,358
have altered brain structures.
All that and more still to come
259
00:14:31,919 --> 00:14:32,920
on Space Time.
260
00:14:48,605 --> 00:14:51,452
New researchers uncovered the
strongest solar event ever
261
00:14:51,492 --> 00:14:53,998
recorded, in the process
rewriting science's
262
00:14:54,058 --> 00:14:58,286
understanding of space weather
and radiocarbon dating. This new
263
00:14:58,386 --> 00:15:01,488
finding expands the timeline and
intensity of known solar
264
00:15:01,548 --> 00:15:04,790
activity and sets a new upper
boundary for such solar
265
00:15:04,810 --> 00:15:05,470
phenomenon.
266
00:15:05,990 --> 00:15:09,732
The study's authors discovered
an extreme spike in radiocarbon
267
00:15:09,892 --> 00:15:15,035
corresponding to the year 12,350
BCE, during the dusk of the last
268
00:15:15,215 --> 00:15:19,397
ice age. The study, by Silja
Gullibeko and Ilja Uzorskin from
269
00:15:19,398 --> 00:15:22,319
the University Of Ulo in
Finland, utilised their newly
270
00:15:22,379 --> 00:15:24,800
developed chemistry climate
model which was specifically
271
00:15:24,860 --> 00:15:27,862
designed to reconstruct solar
particle storms under ancient
272
00:15:27,902 --> 00:15:29,502
global climatic conditions.
273
00:15:30,123 --> 00:15:32,784
The model confirmed that the
detected solar event was
274
00:15:32,804 --> 00:15:37,327
approximately 18% stronger than
the notorious year 775 event
275
00:15:37,507 --> 00:15:40,308
which until now had been the
strongest solar storm ever
276
00:15:40,368 --> 00:15:42,309
recorded using tree ring
archives.
277
00:15:43,030 --> 00:15:45,831
Lubenko says that compared to
the largest event in the modern
278
00:15:45,931 --> 00:15:49,513
satellite era which is the 2005
particle storm, the ancient
279
00:15:49,573 --> 00:15:54,515
12,350. BCE event was more than
500 times more intense.
280
00:15:55,216 --> 00:15:58,217
Other large known solar particle
events occurred around the years
281
00:15:58,277 --> 00:16:06,941
994, 663 BCE, 5259 BCE and 7176
BCE and a few other candidates
282
00:16:06,961 --> 00:16:10,642
are still being investigated.
The new model was verified using
283
00:16:10,682 --> 00:16:13,824
wood samples recently found in
the French Alps dating back some
284
00:16:13,904 --> 00:16:15,624
4,300 years.
285
00:16:16,505 --> 00:16:20,327
Solar particle storms are rare
but when they occur they bombard
286
00:16:20,328 --> 00:16:23,329
the Earth with an enormous
amount of high-energy particles.
287
00:16:24,069 --> 00:16:28,272
In comparison, the famous
Carrington Solar Storm of 1859
288
00:16:28,273 --> 00:16:31,414
was a different kind of event
and not accompanied by a solar
289
00:16:31,454 --> 00:16:36,377
particle storm. Gulabenko says
the ancient event in 12,350 BCE
290
00:16:36,678 --> 00:16:39,880
is the only known extreme solar
particle event outside the
291
00:16:39,920 --> 00:16:43,242
Holocene Epoch, which is the
past 12,000 years of stable,
292
00:16:43,302 --> 00:16:44,103
warm climate.
293
00:16:44,863 --> 00:16:47,025
With this model, the authors
were able to assess the
294
00:16:47,065 --> 00:16:50,167
strength, timing and terrestrial
effects of what is now the most
295
00:16:50,247 --> 00:16:53,009
powerful and extreme solar
particle event ever known.
296
00:16:53,849 --> 00:16:56,411
Solar particle storms can
greatly enhance the normal
297
00:16:56,451 --> 00:16:59,954
production of cosmogenic
isotopes like radiocarbon-14 in
298
00:16:59,955 --> 00:17:02,315
the atmosphere, which are
produced by galactic cosmic
299
00:17:02,395 --> 00:17:02,836
rays.
300
00:17:03,616 --> 00:17:06,538
Such enhanced production,
preserved in annual tree rings,
301
00:17:06,798 --> 00:17:10,081
serves as a clear cosmic
timestamp, making possible
302
00:17:10,221 --> 00:17:12,342
absolute dating of tree samples.
303
00:17:13,043 --> 00:17:16,385
These dramatic spikes, known as
Miyake events after the Japanese
304
00:17:16,425 --> 00:17:19,347
researcher first discovered
them, offer invaluable data for
305
00:17:19,367 --> 00:17:22,628
scientists studying both solar
activity, ancient Earth systems,
306
00:17:22,708 --> 00:17:27,030
and space climate. Miyake events
allow scientists to pin down
307
00:17:27,110 --> 00:17:30,391
exact calendar years in floating
archaeological chronologies.
308
00:17:31,092 --> 00:17:34,113
Radiocarbon signals from such
events have already enabled
309
00:17:34,153 --> 00:17:36,794
researchers to precisely date
Viking settlements in
310
00:17:36,814 --> 00:17:40,036
Newfoundland and Neolithic
communities in Greece. The
311
00:17:40,096 --> 00:17:43,337
findings are revising science's
understanding of solar physics
312
00:17:43,617 --> 00:17:47,179
and space weather extremes. And
this event establishes a new
313
00:17:47,279 --> 00:17:48,360
worst-case scenario.
314
00:17:49,140 --> 00:17:51,982
Understanding its scale is
critical for evaluating the
315
00:17:52,002 --> 00:17:55,044
risks posed by future solar
storms to modern infrastructure
316
00:17:55,244 --> 00:17:58,666
such as satellites, power grids,
and communication and navigation
317
00:17:58,746 --> 00:17:59,306
systems.
318
00:18:00,087 --> 00:18:01,688
This is Space Time.
319
00:18:17,838 --> 00:18:19,940
And time now to take another
brief look at some of the other
320
00:18:20,000 --> 00:18:23,083
stories making use in science
this week with a science report.
321
00:18:23,904 --> 00:18:27,126
A new study claims that people
who work long hours could have
322
00:18:27,307 --> 00:18:30,329
altered brain structures. A
report in the Journal Of
323
00:18:30,369 --> 00:18:33,252
Occupational Environmental
Medicine looked at brain scans
324
00:18:33,253 --> 00:18:37,216
of 110 participants who worked
either 52 or more hours a week
325
00:18:37,416 --> 00:18:39,798
or a standard 35 to 40 hour
week.
326
00:18:40,454 --> 00:18:43,015
They found that when compared
with those who worked standard
327
00:18:43,035 --> 00:18:46,096
hours, those who worked
excessive hours had changes in
328
00:18:46,136 --> 00:18:49,457
brain regions associated with
working memory, problem solving,
329
00:18:49,617 --> 00:18:51,037
and emotional regulation.
330
00:18:51,697 --> 00:18:54,458
Now, while this study only
provides a snapshot, can't be
331
00:18:54,558 --> 00:18:56,879
used to show cause and effect,
the authors say previous
332
00:18:56,959 --> 00:18:59,919
research had linked overwork
with various health issues, and
333
00:18:59,920 --> 00:19:03,300
these results can help provide
more insights into overwork and
334
00:19:03,360 --> 00:19:04,041
our bodies.
335
00:19:05,821 --> 00:19:09,322
Engineers have invented a smart
sponge-like device that can
336
00:19:09,402 --> 00:19:11,144
capture water from thin air.
337
00:19:11,865 --> 00:19:14,668
A report in the Journal Of
Cleaner Production claims the
338
00:19:14,708 --> 00:19:18,371
system uses the Sun's energy and
works even in low humidity where
339
00:19:18,431 --> 00:19:21,835
other technologies such as fog
harvesting and radiative cooling
340
00:19:21,895 --> 00:19:25,018
have struggled. They say the
water from their device remained
341
00:19:25,058 --> 00:19:27,921
effective across a broad range
of humidity levels from 30 to
342
00:19:27,941 --> 00:19:31,905
90% and temperature levels
between 5 and 55 degrees
343
00:19:31,906 --> 00:19:32,506
Celsius.
344
00:19:34,270 --> 00:19:38,072
A new study claims that a ban on
smartphones and social media
345
00:19:38,192 --> 00:19:41,613
access for kids doesn't promote
a healthy use of technology by
346
00:19:41,673 --> 00:19:45,115
children. The findings, reported
in the British Medical Journal,
347
00:19:45,255 --> 00:19:48,216
claims the focus should move to
a rights-based approach with
348
00:19:48,296 --> 00:19:50,978
age-appropriate design and
education, one that protects
349
00:19:51,038 --> 00:19:53,839
kids from harm while developing
the right skills to help them
350
00:19:53,840 --> 00:19:55,740
participate in a digital
society.
351
00:19:56,528 --> 00:19:59,230
The authors say that blanket
restrictions on technology like
352
00:19:59,270 --> 00:20:02,452
smartphones are a stop-gap
solution that does little to
353
00:20:02,492 --> 00:20:05,574
support a child's longer-term
healthy engagement with digital
354
00:20:05,634 --> 00:20:09,257
spaces across school, home and
other occasions.
355
00:20:11,218 --> 00:20:14,420
Australian telecommunications
giant Telstra has begun testing
356
00:20:14,421 --> 00:20:17,582
the Starlink broadband satellite
network for remote customers
357
00:20:17,662 --> 00:20:21,185
beyond the conventional cell
phone network. With the details,
358
00:20:21,285 --> 00:20:23,967
we're joined by technology
editor Alex Saharov-Reut from
359
00:20:24,047 --> 00:20:25,688
TechAdvice.life.
360
00:20:25,908 --> 00:20:28,790
Yeah, well, they've been testing
their Starlink capability to
361
00:20:28,930 --> 00:20:32,172
send text messages to people.
And they're going to launch this
362
00:20:32,352 --> 00:20:35,393
in Australia later this year.
Now, this mirrors what Verizon
363
00:20:35,433 --> 00:20:39,416
did in the US with their ability
to send messages via Starlink.
364
00:20:39,476 --> 00:20:43,158
And this is augmented over what
Apple launched a couple of years
365
00:20:43,198 --> 00:20:46,460
ago, or the IPhone 14, which has
now been extended to the IPhone
366
00:20:46,480 --> 00:20:49,662
13, to send emergency messages
via SOS. And now, of course, you
367
00:20:49,663 --> 00:20:53,224
can send other messages and use
Find My and let your relatives
368
00:20:53,244 --> 00:20:53,884
see where you are. But.
369
00:20:53,944 --> 00:20:56,005
But in other parts of the world,
like Australia and New Zealand
370
00:20:56,025 --> 00:20:59,005
and phone companies are like,
wow, well, we can send messages
371
00:20:59,045 --> 00:21:02,106
and hopefully eventually soon
also make phone calls via
372
00:21:02,206 --> 00:21:05,167
satellite networks when people
are outside of the traditional
373
00:21:05,407 --> 00:21:08,528
cellular network. And this is a
very handy capability. So
374
00:21:08,668 --> 00:21:12,809
Telstra has sent 55,000 text
messages in its testing phase.
375
00:21:12,989 --> 00:21:14,370
And so this is basic testing.
376
00:21:14,510 --> 00:21:17,771
You don't have to be doing this
for emergency purposes, but it
377
00:21:17,772 --> 00:21:21,372
is for hard to reach places
where the network doesn't exist.
378
00:21:21,672 --> 00:21:25,193
This is part of the ability for
regional Australians primarily
379
00:21:25,233 --> 00:21:27,914
because they're the ones who
live outside of the traditional
380
00:21:28,314 --> 00:21:30,255
4G and 5G mobile network
coverage.
381
00:21:30,495 --> 00:21:33,917
And they did also send 500 plus
messages in the live trial and
382
00:21:33,918 --> 00:21:37,018
they've been also sending GPS
coordinates and emojis via text
383
00:21:37,058 --> 00:21:40,900
message. So this is an awesome
update to the ability for the
384
00:21:40,920 --> 00:21:44,062
world to stay in contact
wherever you are and the
385
00:21:44,282 --> 00:21:47,563
ubiquitous communications that
we've sort of dreamed of for
386
00:21:47,843 --> 00:21:49,484
years ever since we've had
satellites.
387
00:21:49,624 --> 00:21:53,046
Calls via Iridium and then
mobile networks that have grown
388
00:21:53,066 --> 00:21:55,948
and grown. This is the next
logical step. And given the fact
389
00:21:55,949 --> 00:21:59,591
that Elon Musk wants to get us
all to Mars, no doubt at some
390
00:21:59,611 --> 00:22:01,892
point soon this will be
interplanetary as well. But for
391
00:22:01,893 --> 00:22:04,674
the time being, we're still
firmly anchored here on Earth.
392
00:22:04,675 --> 00:22:07,836
That's Alex Saharov-Royd from
TechAdvice.live.
393
00:22:23,436 --> 00:22:24,917
And that's the show for now.
394
00:22:25,618 --> 00:22:28,620
Space Time is available every
Monday, Wednesday and Friday
395
00:22:28,700 --> 00:22:33,043
through Bytes.Com, SoundCloud,
YouTube, your favorite podcast
396
00:22:33,063 --> 00:22:36,805
download provider, and from
spacetimewithstuartgarry.com.
397
00:22:37,566 --> 00:22:40,108
Space Time's also broadcast
through the National Science
398
00:22:40,128 --> 00:22:44,091
Foundation on Science Zone Radio
and on both IHeart Radio and
399
00:22:44,211 --> 00:22:45,051
TuneIn Radio.
400
00:22:45,732 --> 00:22:48,714
And you can help to support our
show by visiting the Space Time
401
00:22:48,794 --> 00:22:52,476
store for a range of promotional
merchandising goodies. Or by
402
00:22:52,516 --> 00:22:55,459
becoming a Spacetime patron,
which gives you access to
403
00:22:55,519 --> 00:22:58,581
triple-episode commercial-free
versions of the show, as well as
404
00:22:58,641 --> 00:23:01,884
lots of bonus audio content
which doesn't go to air, access
405
00:23:01,904 --> 00:23:05,947
to our exclusive Facebook group,
and other rewards. Just go to
406
00:23:05,987 --> 00:23:09,090
spacetimewithstuartgary.com for
full details.
407
00:23:09,950 --> 00:23:12,332
You've been listening to
Spacetime with Stuart Gary.
408
00:23:13,053 --> 00:23:15,795
This has been another quality
podcast production from
409
00:23:15,935 --> 00:23:16,776
Bytes.Com.