Surprising Science — April 15, 2010

Solar Power

Using instruments in space and on the ground, Scientists have developed the most complete picture yet of how large solar eruptions affect the Earth.

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Using instruments in space and on the ground, Scientists have developed the most complete picture yet of how large solar eruptions affect the Earth. These eruptions, known as Coronal mass ejections (CMEs), can lead to displays of the northern and southern lights on Earth, but also can cause power outages on the ground, interference with communications and damage to Earth-orbiting satellites, as well as being a possible health risk to space-walking astronauts.

A weekly newsletter featuring the biggest ideas from the smartest people

An image of colorful lights in the dark.

The Future

Why NASA is turning to lasers for next-gen space comms

The first tests of optical communications far from Earth will take place aboard the asteroid-bound Psyche spacecraft

Starts With A Bang

Will Musk’s Starlink satellites lead to Kessler syndrome?

Space weather poses a tremendous threat to all satellites, knocking all computer systems offline. Is that a recipe for Kessler syndrome?

Starts With A Bang

What our first “Earth 2.0” image will teach us

Each of our three nearest stars might have an Earth-like planet in orbit around it. Here’s what we’ll learn when we finally observe it.

Starts With A Bang

First co-orbiting exoplanet hints at our Moon’s origin

The giant impact theory suggests our Moon was formed from proto-Earth getting a Mars-sized strike. An exoplanet system shows it’s plausible.

a close up of the sun with a black background.

Hard Science

The Carrington event of 1859 disrupted telegraph lines. A “Miyake event” would be far worse

We don’t know what causes Miyake events, but these great surges of energy can help us understand the past — while posing a threat to our future.

Up Next

Culture & Religion

Drinking With Dickens

If Christopher Hitchens were to spend “a long and arduous evening in the alehouses and outer purlieus” of 19th Century London, he’d want to be doing it in the company of Charles Dickens.