What is the earliest record of a solar storm?
Through analysis of ice cores from Greenland and Antarctica, a research team has found evidence of an extreme solar storm that occurred about 9,200 years ago. What puzzles the researchers is that the storm took place during one of the sun's more quiet phases — during which it is generally believed our planet is less exposed to such events. It is currently believed that solar storms are more likely during the so-called sunspot cycle. Research now shows (Nature Communications) that this may not always be the case for very large storms.
