Update on the massive solar storm

The massive solar storm could pose “a real danger,” especially since the modern world relies so heavily on electricity, according to Bill Nye, the scientist, science professor and engineer.

Scientists warn that an increase in solar flares and coronal mass ejections from the sun could disrupt communications on Earth over the weekend. Solar flares can affect communications and GPS almost immediately because they disrupt Earth’s ionosphere or part of the upper atmosphere. Energetic particles released by the sun can also disrupt spacecraft electronics and affect astronauts without adequate protection within 20 minutes to several hours.

In comparison to tonight’s event, Nye drew comparisons to another incident in 1859, known as the Carrington Event, when telegraph communications were severely affected.

“The other thing, everyone, that poses a real danger to our technological society, different from 1859, is how much we depend on electricity and our electronic devices and so on,” Nye said. “None of us in the developed world could live very long without electricity.”

He noted that there are systems in place to minimize the impact, but that “things could go wrong,” emphasizing that not all transformers are equipped to withstand such a solar event.

“It depends on the strength of the event and how prepared our infrastructure is for this sort of thing,” he said.