If your cellphone suddenly stops working, don't blame the service provider.
If
your
cellphone
suddenly
stops
working
,
do
n't
blame
the
service
provider
.
The malfunction might well have been caused by something bigger--a solar storm.
The
malfunction
might
well
have
been
caused
by
something
bigger
--
a
solar
storm
.
Experts expect that Earth will see more solar activity in the near future.
Experts
expect
that
Earth
will
see
more
solar
activity
in
the
near
future
.
The malfunction of electronic devices will just one of the effects.
The
malfunction
of
electronic
devices
will
just
one
of
the
effects
.
Sunspots serve as an indicator of the sun's activity.
Sunspots
serve
as
an
indicator
of
the
sun
's
activity
.
For the past two years, sunspots have mostly been missing.
For
the
past
two
years
,
sunspots
have
mostly
been
missing
.
Their absence, the most prolonged in nearly 100 years, has taken even seasoned sun watchers by surprise.
Their
absence
,
the
most
prolonged
in
nearly
100
years
,
has
taken
even
seasoned
sun
watchers
by
surprise
.
When the number of sunspots drops at the end of each 11-year cycle, solar storms die down and all become much calmer.
When
the
number
of
sunspots
drops
at
the
end
of
each
11-year
cycle
,
solar
storms
die
down
and
all
become
much
calmer
.
This "solar minimum" doesn't last long.
This
``
solar
minimum
''
does
n't
last
long
.
Within a year, sunspots and solar storms begin to build toward a new crescendo, the next solar maximum.
Within
a
year
,
sunspots
and
solar
storms
begin
to
build
toward
a
new
crescendo
,
the
next
solar
maximum
.
What's special about this latest cycle is that the sun is having trouble starting the next solar cycle.
What
's
special
about
this
latest
cycle
is
that
the
sun
is
having
trouble
starting
the
next
solar
cycle
.
The sun began to calm down in late 2007, so no one expected many sunspots in 2008.
The
sun
began
to
calm
down
in
late
2007
,
so
no
one
expected
many
sunspots
in
2008
.
They should return in 2010.
They
should
return
in
2010
.
Scientists have predicted that the next solar cycle could be the most active on record: more sunspots and more solar storms.
Scientists
have
predicted
that
the
next
solar
cycle
could
be
the
most
active
on
record
:
more
sunspots
and
more
solar
storms
.
However, sunspots are mostly missing now.
However
,
sunspots
are
mostly
missing
now
.
Since the earth is in close contact with the sun, strong solar activities can bring trouble to our life.
Since
the
earth
is
in
close
contact
with
the
sun
,
strong
solar
activities
can
bring
trouble
to
our
life
.
People of the 21st century rely on high-tech systems for the basics of daily life.
People
of
the
21st
century
rely
on
high-tech
systems
for
the
basics
of
daily
life
.
Air travel and radio communications can be affected by strong solar activities.
Air
travel
and
radio
communications
can
be
affected
by
strong
solar
activities
.
A big solar storm could cause 20 times more economic damage than Hurricane Katrina.
A
big
solar
storm
could
cause
20
times
more
economic
damage
than
Hurricane
Katrina
.
What the sun will do next is beyond our ability to predict.
What
the
sun
will
do
next
is
beyond
our
ability
to
predict
.
Most astronomers think that the solar cycle will go on but at low level.
Most
astronomers
think
that
the
solar
cycle
will
go
on
but
at
low
level
.
However, there is also evidence that the sun is losing its ability to produce sunspots.
However
,
there
is
also
evidence
that
the
sun
is
losing
its
ability
to
produce
sunspots
.
By 2015, they could be gone altogether.
By
2015
,
they
could
be
gone
altogether
.
If your cellphone suddenly stops working, don't blame the service provider. The malfunction might well have been caused by something bigger--a solar storm. Experts expect that Earth will see more solar activity in the near future. The malfunction of electronic devices will just one of the effects.  Sunspots serve as an indicator of the sun's activity. For the past two years, sunspots have mostly been missing. Their absence, the most prolonged in nearly 100 years, has taken even seasoned sun watchers by surprise.  When the number of sunspots drops at the end of each 11-year cycle, solar storms die down and all become much calmer. This "solar minimum" doesn't last long. Within a year, sunspots and solar storms begin to build toward a new crescendo, the next solar maximum.  What's special about this latest cycle is that the sun is having trouble starting the next solar cycle. The sun began to calm down in late 2007, so no one expected many sunspots in 2008. They should return in 2010. Scientists have predicted that the next solar cycle could be the most active on record: more sunspots and more solar storms. However, sunspots are mostly missing now.  Since the earth is in close contact with the sun, strong solar activities can bring trouble to our life. People of the 21st century rely on high-tech systems for the basics of daily life. Air travel and radio communications can be affected by strong solar activities. A big solar storm could cause 20 times more economic damage than Hurricane Katrina.  What the sun will do next is beyond our ability to predict. Most astronomers think that the solar cycle will go on but at low level. However, there is also evidence that the sun is losing its ability to produce sunspots. By 2015, they could be gone altogether.