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The solar storm of 1859 (a.k.a. 'Solar Superstorm' or 'Carrington Event') was the most powerful solar storm in recorded history.
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Were it to happen today, it could severely damage satellites, disable radio communications and cause continent-wide electrical blackouts that would require weeks or longer to recover from. Although a storm of that magnitude is a rare once-in-500-years event, those with half its intensity hit every 50 years or so. The last one, which occurred on November 13, 1960, led to worldwide geomagnetic disturbances and radio outages. If we make no preparations, by some calculations the direct and indirect costs of another superstorm could equal that of a major hurricane or earthquake.
Further reading:
Scientific American
NASA
Space Daily
New Scientist
Wiki
