Solar flares can generate a variety of problems, as one of the world’s leading experts on the sun explains.
The Sun provides nearly all Earth's energy, but it's also a hazard. Our nearby star occasionally emits a tremendous energy jet that knocks down technology.
Here's the worrisome part: Earth hasn't been hit by powerful space weather since humanity started relying on technology. As the Sun nears peak activity, some worry about potential threats.
Space weather specialists claim we've had a couple of low-level events recently. Interesting Engineering got down with heliophysics Gregory D. Fleishman, a specialist on the Sun's outer layers, to learn more.
Length and clarity were edited.
What's space weather?
Gregory D. Fleishman: It discusses interplanetary conditions that affect Earth's infrastructure, technology, and life. Space weather has many components. The solar wind is t...