Solar Storm Alert: Rare CME Blast Sparks Intense Activity on Earth
An "extremely rare" farside coronal mass ejection (CME) blast from the Sun, traveling at a speed of 3000 kilometers per second, caused a minor solar storm on Earth. Although the CME was not Earth-directed, some particles were thrown towards the planet due to the shock waves created by the high-speed CME. Experts warn that if such a blast occurred on the Earth-side, it could cause massive destruction, including burning down satellites, destroying wireless communication, causing power grid failures, and damaging sensitive computers. As the Sun nears the peak of its solar cycle, we may see powerful solar storms hit us in the near future.