Here’s something you probably have never heard of that you can start worrying about now: solar storms.
As if we didn’t have enough things threatening life as it is, now there is a 1 in 8 chance of a catastrophic solar megastorm within the next 8 years, according to Gizmodo.
From Gizmodo:
Earth’s sun goes through an 11-year cycle of increased and decreased activity. During solar maximum, it’s dotted with many sunspots and enormous magnetic whirlwinds erupt from its surface. Occasionally, these flares burst outward from the sun, spewing a mass of charged particles out into space.
Does this bring images from ‘Armageddon’ to mind? How about ‘Deep Impact’? That’s all we can picture.
These charged particles headed our way may wreak havoc on to electrical systems. While it’s more likely there will be some minor disturbances, some are warning of complete disaster. A world with no Internet? Now that’s the real catastrophe.
If this solar storm was that big of a threat, we”d hope the smart folks over at NASA would be making a bigger deal of it.
Until then, here are some things that pose more danger to the human race than a few sparks in the sky:
1. Subways
We’re more concerned about our day-to-day safety on the subway than we are about solar storms. With the number of people being struck, some killed some injured we say a little prayer before swiping our Metro Cards.
2. Mother Nature
Now this is something to worry about. After the major disasters in recent years worldwide – floods, earthquakes, tornadoes – it is a thousand times more likely Mother Nature, not the sun’s orbit, will be an end to the world.
3. Snooki’s baby
What’s really frightening is the power, money and fame this little guido or guidette will have. The baby hasn’t even been officially announced yet and already has the media wrapped around its finger.
So forget what you saw in that terrible movie ‘2012.’ We’ll be just fine, but for those conspiracy theorists out there, knock yourselves out.
