Solar flares spell IT doom

BOFFINS are warning yet again that one of the largest solar flares on record has disrupted communications links and electrical power grids and more flares are expected.

According to News.com, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency, or NOAA, said has said that its scientists saw the fourth largest solar flare seen in 15 years emerging from the Sun on Wednesday afternoon.

The flare had some intense radio emissions were associated with the flare which rates 'severe' on NOAA's space weather scale for radio blackouts.

High-frequency communications on the day-lit side of Earth, were blacked out and low-frequency navigation systems may also have experienced a period of significant degradation.

If that were not bad enough, the boffins are warning that more solar burps could be on the way and these could disrupt communication for spacecraft operations and electrical power grids.

More here. µ