0.3232
7667766266
x
x
  1. Home
  2. CURRENT AFFAIRS
  3. PRELIM BITS
  4. SOLAR STORM

Solar Storm

iasparliament Logo
December 10, 2025

Prelims: Current events of national and international importance | Science & Technology

Why in News?

India’s Aditya-L1, along with 6 U.S. satellites has revealed why the May 2024 solar storm also known as Gannon’s storm behaved so unusually.

The 6 U.S. satellites are NASA’s Wind, ACE, THEMIS-C, STEREO-A, MMS, and NASA-NOAA joint mission DSCOVR.

  • Solar Storm – It is a sudden explosion of particles, energy, magnetic fields, and material blasted into the solar system by the Sun.
  • Causes – The Sun’s magnetic fields get twisted, like messy hair.
  • Because the Sun’s equator spins faster than its poles, the fields twist even more.
  • When they get too stretched, they snap and reconnect (called magnetic reconnection), releasing huge bursts of energy — this is how solar storms start.
  • Induce any or all the events – solar flare (bright flash of light), radiation storm (flurry of solar particles propelled into space at high speeds) and coronal mass ejection.
  • Effects – Solar storms can shake up Earth’s magnetic field, causing geomagnetic storms.
  • It may lead to radio blackouts, power cuts, and bright auroras in the sky.
  • But they don’t directly harm people because Earth’s magnetic field and atmosphere protect us.

Quick Fact

Reasons for 2024’s unusual solar storm
  • Scientists noticed something unusual – 2 CMEs (coronal mass ejections) collided in space, squeezing each other so tightly that their magnetic fields snapped and reconnected.
  • This process flipped the CME’s magnetic field and made the storm’s impact much stronger than expected.

Key Discoveries

  • The reconnection region inside the CME was enormous — about 1.3 million km across (nearly 100 times Earth’s size).
  • 1st time such a giant magnetic breakup and rejoining was ever seen inside a CME.
  • Satellites also noticed particles suddenly speeding up, proving the reconnection happened.

To know about Aditya L1, click here

References

  1. The Hindu | Global effort reveals why the 2024 solar storm unusual
  2. NASA | Solar Strom
5 comments
Login or Register to Post Comments

kate than 1 day

Solar Storm delivers an intense and electrifying experience that keeps you hooked from start to finish, and if you enjoy creative twists like this, Sprunki Mods offer a whole new level of custom content, unique mechanics, and fresh gameplay ideas worth exploring.

younanme 17 days

I really enjoyed this article! It's always inspiring to see content that explores how our brains process and remember visual information. I've been looking for fun ways to sharpen my color perception, and this free color memory game online seems like exactly what I needed. The concept of rebuilding colors from memory using simple HSB controls is clever and addictive. I'm definitely bookmarking this one to share with friends who love quick brain challenges!

younanme 17 days

Great article! I love how the indie game scene keeps pushing boundaries with unconventional ideas. Speaking of which, if you're into chaotic RPGs with absurd humor, an anti-Wendy's parody game has been keeping me entertained for hours with its rage-based combat system and ridiculous boss battles. The combo mechanics and multiple difficulty modes really add to the replay value. Thanks for sharing this read!

younanme 17 days

Great article! I've always believed that training your ear is one of the most underrated forms of brain exercise. If you're looking for a fun way to sharpen your auditory memory, I recently discovered this pitch-matching memory game that lets you test your listening skills against friends. It's surprisingly addictive and a great way to turn ear training into a quick competitive challenge. Definitely worth trying if you want to make memory practice more engaging!

younanme 17 days

Great article on memory improvement techniques! I've been looking for fun ways to keep my mind sharp, and recently discovered  a fantastic brain training game that actually makes exercising your memory enjoyable. The combination of audio and visual challenges keeps things interesting while building real cognitive skills. Would definitely recommend giving it a try - it's been a great addition to my daily routine!

ARCHIVES

MONTH/YEARWISE ARCHIVES

sidetext
Free UPSC Interview Guidance Programme
sidetext