Blackouts Around The World As Strongest Solar Flare Of 2025 Hits Earth, Experts Say "More To Come"
The sun erupted with the year's most powerful solar flare on Wednesday, triggering widespread radio blackouts. The massive flare, one of two unleashed that day, caused shortwave radio disruptions across North America, South America, Southeast Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, as reported by Space.com. The sun unleashed the massive X-class solar flare at approximately 4:25 a.m. ET, marking the peak of the solar storm. The eruption unleashed a burst of X-rays and extreme ultraviolet radiation that hurtled toward Earth at the speed of light, rapidly ionising the upper atmosphere. This sudden change disrupted high-frequency radio signals, causing communication blackouts for some radio operators across multiple continents.
"This is getting intense, especially as this active region turns closer into view," aurora chaser Vincent Ledvina wrote in a post on X.
WOW, happening now: an X2.7 flare from AR 4087 rotating in. This is getting intense, especially as this active region turns closer into view. This same AR just produced an M5.3 flare a few hours ago.
What does this AR have planned over the next days… we'll have to wait and see. pic.twitter.com/GAgJWi3bJV
— Vincent Ledvina (@Vincent_Ledvina) May 14, 2025
The NOAA Space Weather Prediction Centre (SWPC) noted that X-class solar flares, like the X2.7 flare on May 14, are rare and among the most powerful. "Flares of this magnitude are not frequent," according to a statement from the NOAA officials.
Solar flares are classified into five categories: A, B, C, M, and X, with each level indicating a tenfold energy increase. The X2.7 flare, though at the lower end of the X-class, triggered significant shortwave radio blackouts across five continents.
"More To Come"
Hours after the X2.7 flare on May 14, 2025, sunspot region AR4087 erupted again with a potent M5.3-class flare. By 7:20 a.m. ET on May 15, it unleashed another, an M7.74-class flare.
AR 4087 just produced another solar flare, this time an M7.7 event at 11:18 UTC (May 14). pic.twitter.com/WexbbvzGvf
— SolarHam (@SolarHam) May 14, 2025
As the sunspot marches toward direct alignment with Earth, experts warn of potential further disruptions, including radio blackouts and power grid issues. Experts are advising space agencies and power companies to remain on high alert for potential fallout.
Some effects of these solar storms include:
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
Underdogs OTT Release Date: When and where to watch Ryan Reynolds' new National Geographic nature series online
Underdogs OTT Release Date: Ryan Reynolds is back, but this time, he's not playing a superhero or a snarky hitman. He's lending his voice (and signature humour) to a new National Geographic show called Underdogs. And guess what? It's not about lions, tigers, or pandas. It's about the weird, wonderful, and totally ignored creatures of the animal world. Premiering on June 15, 2025, at 9 PM ET/PT on National Geographic and ABC, the series will be available for streaming the same day on Disney+ (JioHotstar in India) and Hulu. What's Underdogs about? This show is all about the 'nobodies' of the animal kingdom. We're talking about the slimy, awkward, bizarre, and often hilarious creatures most people don't care about. But these animals are doing some seriously cool (and gross) stuff to survive and thrive. You'll see: A glowing cave full of grubs lighting it up with their butts (yes, really) Shrimp that shoot bubbles hot enough to cook things Koalas that feed poop to their babies Frogs that turn invisible Basically, it's nature like you've never seen before. Who's behind this? Ryan Reynolds not only narrates Underdogs but also serves as an executive producer through his company, Maximum Effort. The series is a collaborative effort with Wildstar Films, known for their expertise in wildlife storytelling. The production team includes Vanessa Berlowitz, Mark Linfield, Dan Rees, George Dewey, Ashley Fox, Patrick Gooing, Bengt Anderson, and Tracy Rudolph Jackson. The theme song is penned by rock band Green Day, while the score is composed by Henry Gregson-Williams, whose previous works include Shrek, The Martian, and Gladiator 2. Episode Breakdown Here's what each episode covers: Superzeroes (June 15) – Weird creatures with wild powers. Think frogs you can see through, and shrimp that punch like boxers. Terrible Parents (June 15) – Moms and dads in the wild who are just... bad. Like birds laying eggs on cliffs or koalas with poop on the menu. Sexy Beasts (June 22) – The animal dating scene, and it's strange. Monkeys with weird noses and turkeys doing dance moves. The Unusual Suspects (June 22) – Sneaky animals doing sneaky things. Frogs pretending to be rocks. Monkeys stealing from tourists. Total Grossout (June 29) – Nature's nastiest tricks. Farting manatees, glowing bugs, and more stuff that's cool and kinda gross. So if you're bored of lions and penguins and want to learn about the little guys who don't usually get the spotlight, this one's for you. Catch Underdogs on Nat Geo starting June 15 or stream it on JioHotstar. Your inner animal nerd will thank you.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
One thunderous threat looms over Tyrese Haliburton-led Indiana Pacers ahead of Game 1 of NBA Finals
Indiana Pacers. Image via: Getty Images As the Indiana Pacers prepare for their first NBA Finals appearance in nearly a quarter-century, one unexpected challenge has emerged before even stepping onto the hardwood: the favorite and the odds. Additionally, Tyrese Haliburton and his squad, fresh off a playoff run full of upsets, find themselves battling delays caused by severe thunderstorms and tornado warnings that disrupted their travel to Game 1. In a series already stacked against them, Mother Nature has joined the opposition. The Indiana Pacers face a major threat heading into Game 1 of the NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder Led by MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the Oklahoma City Thunder finished the season with a 68-14 record, one of the best in league history, and entered the NBA Finals as colossal -700 favorites, according to Yahoo Sports. The numbers place them among the most heavily favored teams in Finals history. To put things in perspective, consider these iconic comparisons— 2001 Lakers (-2000): With Shaq and Kobe in their prime, L.A. rolled through the playoffs 15-1, dominating the Sixers and claiming the title with ease. 2018 Warriors (-1075): Kevin Durant and company dismantled the Cavaliers in a clean 4-0 sweep. 1996 Bulls (-950): Michael Jordan's record-setting 72-win team beat the Sonics in six games, cementing their dynasty. 2000 Lakers (-800): Shaq averaged a staggering 38 points per game as they defeated—ironically—the Indiana Pacers in six games. 2004 Lakers (-700): Despite a superteam lineup, they were shocked by the Pistons in a stunning 4-1 upset. 1986 Celtics (-700): Bird, McHale, and Parish outmatched the Rockets for a dominant win. That last outlier, the 2004 Lakers, serves as a cautionary tale. Favorites don't always finish the job, and this underdog Pacers team, led by Haliburton, is built to break narratives as they have so far in the playoffs. But the odds aren't the only thunderous hurdle looming over the Pacers. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trading CFD dengan Teknologi dan Kecepatan Lebih Baik IC Markets Mendaftar Undo According to Fieldhouse Files reporter Scott Agness, severe weather caused a major delay in Indiana's flight to Oklahoma City. 'According to flight data, the plane landed at Will Rogers International Airport at 7:58 p.m. ET — five hours after takeoff, about twice as long as the expected flight time,' Agness reported. While the Pacers are expected to hold practices before each Finals game, the extended travel time and turbulent arrival are far from ideal. ESPN's Matchup Predictor only gives them a 34.4% chance to win Game 1, emphasizing the steep road ahead. Also Read: Bronny James and girlfriend Parker Whitfield spotted golfing with LeBron James during Hawaiian vacation Still, Haliburton's crew thrives under pressure. After all, they've already knocked out higher seeds en route to this improbable Finals run. Now, with the elements and experts aligned against them, Indiana will need to summon more of their strength to fight against the Thunder in the finals.
India Today
3 days ago
- India Today
Magnitude 6.2 earthquake strikes Greece and Turkey border region
A powerful 6.2 magnitude earthquake has struck near the Dodecanese Islands along the Turkey border region. Authorities are assessing damage and monitoring for quake, recorded at 23:17 UTC, occurred approximately 18 kilometres from Rhodes at a depth of 68 kilometres (42 miles), EMSC were reportedly felt across parts of southern Greece, western Turkey, and nearby Aegean Sea coastal regions. Local authorities are currently assessing the situation, though there have been no immediate reports of serious injuries or damage. Emergency response teams remain on alert as aftershocks are It comes weeks after an earthquake of 5.1 magnitude on the Richter scale hit Turkey on Thursday around 3.46 PM (local time), independent scientific organisation EMSC reported. The tremor was felt 14km northeast of EARTHQUAKES IN THE REAGIONThe Aegean Sea region, particularly near Rhodes and the Turkey border, often experiences quakes because it's located on a very active tectonic plate. This area is affected by the Hellenic subduction zone and the stretching of land in a north-south have been major earthquakes here in the past, including the powerful 7.0-magnitude Samos quake in 2020 and the devastating Rhodes quake in 1481. Since February 2025, scientists have recorded more than 900 small quakes around Santorini. However, not all earthquake clusters, also known as swarms, lead to volcanic eruptions or large Watch
