Between the big solar flare this week and the report last week that there was a 12% chance of us seeing an enormous, technology-trashing solar flare in the next ten years, there has been a fair amount of talk lately about the upside of being bombarded with solar radiation. Namely, seeing the Northern Lights further south. Like in New York City. But—fun fact—the aurora borealis has actually stopped by the five boroughs quite a number of times over the years. more ›

First, the good news: according to the Space Weather journal, in the next 10 years there’s a 12% chance that we'll be able to see the northern lights from Manhattan. Yes, THE aurora borealis, right here in New York City. It's actually happened before, when the Carrington Event occurred in 1859—at the time, the NY Times wrote that the people of New York City gathered on sidewalks and rooftops, adding, "the heavens were arrayed in a drapery more gorgeous than they have been for years... Such was the aurora, as thousands witnessed it from housetops and from pavements. Many imagined they heard rushing sounds as if Aeolus [a mythological Greek god] had let loose winds." more ›

The biggest solar flare in four years exploded on the surface of the sun on Valentine's Day, probably coinciding with the exact moment when you saw the bill for dinner. A particle cloud has been barreling out from the giant star, and there have been concerns that the radiation could disrupt communication and navigation satellite. In China radio communication has already been affected, and AFP reports that this could "trigger blackouts around the world." But don't worry about the particle storm; NASA's Dean Pesnell insists, "It won't hit us dead-on." Which is exactly what the NASA scientist in the movies would tell the media before fleeing to his well-stocked bunker. more ›