An international team of scientists discovered that solar storms can be much more powerful and devastating than we know. By analyzing traces of solar storms in ice cores from Greenland and Antarctica, researchers concluded that Earth was hit by two extreme solar storms over a thousand years ago.
Solar storms are eruptions on the Sun which cause the emission of a huge amount of particles. If the emitted particles hit the Earth they engage in interaction with our planet's magnetic field. This interaction causes the particles to gather around Earth's poles therefore causing the northern or southern polar lights, the so-called auroras
Apart from this amazing and visually appealing phenomena, solar storms can also cause major power outages, and can lead to satellites and communication systems break downs. Several extreme solar storms have been observed in the last 40 years, which have led to power outages across major inhabited areas of the planet. One event of such strength was documented in March 1989 in Canada and in October 2003 in Sweden.
