Study Reveals Sun May Be Overdue for a Rare and Powerful Superflare

Research on sun-like stars suggests superflares occur roughly once per century, raising concerns about the Sun's potential to unleash a catastrophic event.

A new study analyzed 56,450 sun-like stars and found that superflares occur approximately once every 100 years on average.
Superflares release energy up to 10,000 times greater than typical solar flares, with the potential to disrupt Earth's technology and infrastructure.
The Sun's last known extreme solar event, the Carrington Event of 1859, was far less powerful than a superflare but still caused widespread telegraph failures and auroras visible at low latitudes.
Evidence from tree rings and ice cores suggests that extreme solar events have occurred in Earth's history, but none have reached the scale of a superflare in recent millennia.
Scientists emphasize the importance of improved solar monitoring and forecasting, including upcoming projects like the European Space Agency's Vigil probe, to mitigate potential impacts of future solar activity.