Solar Storm

Every mission to deep space is fraught with danger. A hardware failure during launch, an equipment malfunction far from Earth, or a small space rock hitting the vehicle are all scenarios astronauts will train for. As humans set off on the Artemis II mission, visiting the Moon for the first…

NASA's Orion capsule cruises through deep space beyond the moon on the uncrewed Artemis 1 mission in late 2022. (Image credit: NASA) Once the Artemis 2 astronauts get beyond the protective environment of Earth's atmosphere and magnetic field, they will be subject to space radiation. While en route to and…

The hazards that the Artemis II crew must navigate during their 10-day flight are plentiful, starting from the second they launch aboard the most powerful rocket to ever carry humans and continuing all the way through their return to Earth nestled inside the Orion capsule. Many threats the crew will…

What happens when a solar superstorm hits Mars? Thanks to the European Space Agency's Mars orbiters, we now know: glitching spacecraft and a supercharged upper atmosphere. In May 2024, Earth was hit by the biggest solar storm recorded in over 20 years . It sent our planet's atmosphere into overdrive,…

Scientists at Kyoto University have developed a theoretical model examining whether disturbances in the ionosphere could apply electrostatic forces deep within the Earth's crust. Under certain conditions, these forces might contribute to the start of large earthquakes. The research is not designed to forecast earthquakes. Instead, it outlines a possible…

NASA Science Editorial Team Feb 19, 2026 A stream of charged particles known as the solar wind flows from the Sun toward Earth. Here, it meets the Earth’s magnetic fields, which shield our planet like a giant umbrella. The Space Umbrella project needs your help investigating this dynamic region, where…

February 2, 2026 1 min read Add Us On Google Add SciAm The sun is experiencing a violent solar storm, releasing one of the strongest solar flares seen in the past 30 years By Joseph Howlett edited by Claire Cameron An X-class solar flare captured on camera by NASA’s Solar…

The phrase "House of Cards" is often linked today with a popular Netflix political series, but its original meaning describes something far more literal: a structure that can collapse easily. That idea is exactly how Sarah Thiele, formerly a PhD student at the University of British Columbia and now a…

When a solar storm strikes Earth, it can disrupt technology that's vital for our daily lives. Solar storms occur when magnetic fields and electrically charged particles collide with the Earth's magnetic field. This type of event falls into the category known as "space weather". Authors Nicola Baresi Lecturer in Orbital…

A new analysis suggests modern satellite networks could suffer catastrophic collisions within days of losing control during a major solar storm. The phrase “House of Cards” is often associated today with a Netflix political drama, but its original meaning refers to a structure that is inherently unstable...Read More