Scientists warn we are not prepared for extreme space event that could cause 'internet apocalypse'
Scientists have issued an urgent warning about some of the chaotic consequences that could arise from the solar storms that are presenting a huge risk to planet Earth - and they say we are not sufficiently prepared.
We've seen a number of blackouts occur across the world in recent weeks, as solar flares continue to hit, and that has led to questions about whether we're truly ready to deal with what scientists are calling a 'solar superstorm'.
We only need to look at what happened in Spain last month when the whole country lost power to understand the potentially disastrous circumstances that can arise if something as important as the internet is taken away, even when it's for less than a day.
Although scientists have ruled out popular theories that solar storms were to blame for the Spain blackout, they still think massive solar storms could cause cataclysmic blackouts, grid breakdowns and even an 'internet apocalypse' following a recent emergency drill.
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The back in my day brigade would maybe even love it if we went back to sending each other letters and living life without TikTok, but the reality is far scarier, as we have become pretty much entirely dependant on WiFi over the last few decades.
Hospitals, schools and offices would all be left in a bit of a pickle without any internet. Hell, you wouldn't be able to read any of my articles anymore - truly devastating stuff.
As per IFL Science, the emergency drill, named the Space Weather Tabletop Exercise, was set in January 2028 and involved different magnitudes of geomagnetic storms. It was conducted by the Space Weather Operations, Research, and Mitigation (SWORM).
The hypothetical solar storms had all sorts of devastating impacts on electrical grids, GPS, satellite and radio communication.
The imagined scenario had Denver International Airport non-operational with a damaged transformer and hundreds of travellers stranded, satellites colliding in low Earth orbit, and astronauts exposed to high levels of radiation.
The participants also expected 911 call centres and hospitals to be overwhelmed as they were forced to depend on backup generators, with supply chains disrupted.
The report reads: “Space weather is a complex subject and its potential impacts are not well understood outside of NOAA and NASA."
SWORM added that participants also lacked the 'space weather expertise' necessary to 'translate the scientific information and determine what the specific impacts would be on Earth.'
“There is a strong need to educate not only government and agency staff but the general public, as well.
“Ongoing preparedness efforts for a space weather event are crucial because an extreme event has the potential to severely impact our nation’s critical infrastructure and threaten our national security.
"Just as we prepare for earthquakes, hurricanes, and cyberattacks, our nation must take action before a major space weather event occurs.”
Given that scientists are also building a 'black box' in Australia to record our inevitable demise to climate change, it seems clear that the world of science isn't too optimistic about our future.
Topics: Science, Technology
James Moorhouse