Every 11 years the sun enters a period of increased activity. Currently, the earth is at an increased risk of being hit by solar winds. During the solar maximum there are more sun spots and solar flares emitted by the sun.

Quite often these can pass close to the earth causing disruption to telecommunications, and damage to power grids. However, if we were to be hit directly by a really big solar storm the damage could potentially be 20 times worse than Hurricane Katrina. An event on this scale would take out the global telecommunications systems, by destroying satellites. The power grids would be damaged, and entire nations could be plunged into darkness.

The last time earth was hit by such a storm was in 1859, it is known as the Carrington Event. That solar storm knocked out the telegram system (the latest technology at that time). The Aurora were so bright that they could be seen in Africa, and you could read a news paper in Cuba by their light. Unlike 1859, we now live in a digital age and the effects of a similar hit would cost trillions of dollars, and the effects could last years, modern life as we know it would come to a halt.