Imagine a world where the internet suddenly disappears. It may sound like a plot straight out of a science fiction novel, but the reality is that a strong solar storm hitting the Earth could potentially cause a widespread internet outage. Although this event is rare, experts warn that our interconnected world may not be prepared for such a scenario.
In 1859, a solar storm known as the Carrington Event caused telegraph lines to spark, operators to be electrocuted, and even brought the northern lights to lower latitudes. A similar event in 1989 took out the Quebec power grid for hours. These examples show that the consequences of a solar storm can be severe.
As we enter a particularly active period called the “solar maximum” in 2025, concerns about the resilience of our internet infrastructure have grown. Sangeetha Abdu Jyothi, a computer science professor at the University of California, began researching internet resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic. She realized how unprepared we were for a widespread internet failure.
Large-scale infrastructure, such as submarine communication cables, is likely to be affected by a severe solar storm, potentially interrupting long-distance connectivity. Internet outage could last for months, causing significant economic impacts. The United States alone could lose over $11 billion in just one day of lost connectivity.
The vulnerability of internet infrastructure in northern latitudes, combined with the concentration of internet infrastructure in these areas, further adds to the potential risks. Our current infrastructure deployment does not account for this vulnerability.
While researchers have been discussing the potential impact of solar storms on the power grid, it seems to be less alarming to the public. However, losing power would also mean losing internet access.
Recent panic about the “internet apocalypse” was sparked by discoveries from the Parker Solar Probe, a NASA device launched in 2018 to study the sun. Scientists found new evidence about the source of solar winds and their connection to a phenomenon called “magnetic reconnection.” Although the research did not specifically focus on solar storms, it contributes to our understanding of solar activity and its potential impacts.
While the idea of the internet disappearing overnight may be unsettling, scientists like Stuart D. Bale, a physics professor at the University of California, believe that such scenarios are not cause for excessive worry. Bale, who is involved in NASA’s research on the sun, acknowledges the panic that the idea instills but encourages a more balanced perspective.
In the end, the responsibility to prepare for such events falls on governments and companies. Ordinary people may not have much they can do to prepare for an “internet apocalypse.” However, increasing awareness and taking steps to strengthen internet infrastructure can contribute to resilience in the face of potential solar storms.
Denial of responsibility! VigourTimes is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
