Solar Flares

With recent coverage by MSNBC and the Huffington Post, sun storms are making a scene. According to the Huffington Post, a strong sun storm caused a solar flare on March 6, 2012, that was strong enough to cause earthly damage — with more such storms likely to come.

But what is a sun storm?

What damage can one do?

And what are scientists doing to study and predict these events?

Find the answers to these questions and more in “Sun Storm!” as Richard Fisher ’61, one of the world’s most foremost authorities on the study of the sun, explains. “Sun Storm!” is one of many interesting articles in the spring 2012 issue of The Grinnell Magazine.

For even more information about this fascinating subject, check out these videos on geomagnetic storms (right), satellites that monitor the sun, and the secret lives of solar flares.