Archive · 24 May 2025
Ancient Solar Storm's Strength Revealed in Tree Rings
Imagine a super strong solar flare from the sun, much bigger than anything we've seen lately!
Scientists found evidence of this ancient solar storm from over 14,000 years ago.
It was so powerful that it left traces in tree rings.
This 'Miyake Event' created a spike in a special kind of carbon that trees absorbed, like a memory of the blast.
The storm was far stronger than even the biggest ones in recent times.
If a similar storm happened today, it could mess up technology.
Scientists used special models to study the storm and found it was 500 times stronger than a recent solar event.
This discovery helps us understand how extreme space weather can be.
Scientists discovered evidence of a powerful solar storm from over 14,000 years ago.
The storm, known as a Miyake Event, is recorded in tree rings through carbon-14 spikes.
This event occurred around 12,350 BC and was more potent than any modern solar storm.
The storm's effects were confirmed by matching beryllium-10 levels in Greenland ice cores.
Researchers used a climate model to analyze data and quantify the storm's intensity.
- Who
- Scientists from the University of Oulu
- What
- Colossal solar storm
- When
- Around 12,350 BC
- Where
- Tree rings along France’s Drouzet River, and Greenland ice cores
- Why
- To study the effects of ancient solar storms and understand space weather.
- Event Type
- Miyake Event
- Date of Event
- Around 12,350 BC
- Location of Evidence
- Tree rings along France’s Drouzet River, and Greenland ice cores
- Measurement
- Spikes in carbon-14 levels
- Strength Compared to 2005 Storm
- 500 times stronger
- Significance
- Redefines worst-case space weather scenarios