Overview

• Scientists identified a colossal solar particle storm in 12350 BC, marking it as the most powerful event ever recorded, surpassing all known Holocene events.
• The SOCOL:14C-Ex model, developed by researchers, allowed precise reconstruction of the storm under glacial conditions, bridging gaps in previous solar storm analyses.
• The storm was 18% stronger than the AD 775 Miyake event and over 500 times more intense than the largest modern satellite-era storm in 2005.
• Tree-ring data from 12350 BC wood samples in the French Alps validated the model and constrained the event's timing to January–April 12350 BCE.
• The findings establish a new worst-case scenario for solar storms, highlighting critical risks to satellites, power grids, and communication systems in the modern era.