Earth Faces Potential Technological Disruptions from Major Solar Event

The strongest solar flare since 2017, followed by a coronal mass ejection, could cause damage to power grids and communication systems, with more such events expected in 2024.

An X5 solar flare, the strongest since 2017, erupted from the sun on New Year's Eve, 2023, and was followed by a coronal mass ejection (CME) heading towards Earth.
The CME, a massive jet of solar material, has the potential to cause damage to human technologies on Earth, including power grids and communication systems.
We are currently in the midst of Solar Cycle 25, which is expected to peak between January and October 2024, indicating more such solar events are likely.
X-class flares are the most intense type of solar flare and can cause planet-wide radio blackouts and long-lasting radiation storms.
The recent solar flare and CME could result in bright auroras visible at lower latitudes and minor geomagnetic storms.