Scientists have discovered evidence of the most intense solar storm ever recorded, dating back 14,300 years to the last Ice Age. The event was 500 times stronger than modern solar storms, presenting a new extreme scenario for solar activity's impact on Earth.
Researchers analyzed tree rings in the French Alps, revealing a radiocarbon spike from 12,350 BC. This was not a typical solar flare, but a solar particle storm with highly energetic protons causing a radiation storm around the planet.
Understanding the scale of this event is crucial for assessing risks to modern infrastructure like satellites, power grids, and communication systems. The storm was 18% stronger than the 775 AD event, previously considered the most intense. Such events are rare but could have devastating impacts during periods of Earth's magnetic field weakness, potentially damaging DNA and aquatic ecosystems.