SCIENCE BRIEFING
From Times Staff And Wire Reports
When the sun sneezes, Earth gets sick. It’s time for the sun to move into a busier period for sunspots, and though forecasters expect a mild outbreak by historical standards, one major solar storm can cause havoc with satellites and electrical systems.
Like hurricanes, a weak cycle refers to the number of storms, but it takes only one powerful storm to create chaos, warned scientist Doug Biesecker of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s space weather prediction center.
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