Damage to power grids and other communications systems could be catastrophic, the scientists conclude, with effects leading to a potential loss of governmental control of the situation.
The prediction is based in part on a major solar storm in 1859 that caused telegraph wires to short out in the United States and Europe, igniting widespread fires.
It was perhaps the worst in the past 200 years, according to the new study, and with the advent of modern power grids and satellites, much more is at risk.
“A contemporary repetition of the [1859] event would cause significantly more extensive (and possibly catastrophic) social and economic disruptions,” the researchers conclude.
Murphy’s law says that what can go wrong will go wrong. In other words, since the grid can go down, it is a mathematical certainty that it will go down given enough time.
Granted, it is theoretically possible that we could make the grid immune to the solar flare effect before next big storm comes along (whenever that will be). But I think it would be more realistic to count on pigs flying.