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2024 Solar Storm Echoes Historic Carrington Event Threat

9/3/2025

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Summary

Story summary

Richard Carrington observed a solar flare on September 1, 1859, resulting in the Carrington Event, the strongest geomagnetic storm recorded.
The storm disrupted telegraph systems and produced auroras visible in the Caribbean and Central America.
The May 2024 storm highlights ongoing risks to technology from solar activity.
A modern Carrington-class storm could damage power grids, GPS, and communications, potentially costing over $2 trillion.

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Story summary

Richard Carrington observed a solar flare on September 1, 1859, resulting in the Carrington Event, the strongest geomagnetic storm recorded.
The storm disrupted telegraph systems and produced auroras visible in the Caribbean and Central America.
The May 2024 storm highlights ongoing risks to technology from solar activity.
A modern Carrington-class storm could damage power grids, GPS, and communications, potentially costing over $2 trillion.