The next major solar storm could plunge the world into darkness as early as 2025. Here’s what we know about it.

Solar or geomagnetic storms are common phenomena for our planet, but the most powerful among them can lead to significant disruptions in the operation of power grids, communication systems, and the internet. Entire industries could completely halt due to the effects of an exceptionally strong geomagnetic storm. The risk of such a storm is increasing, with potential occurrence as early as 2025, according to Earth.

Solar or geomagnetic storms on Earth occur as a result of intense flares and plasma ejections from the Sun. When charged particles from the Sun and radiation reach Earth and collide with our planet's magnetic field, it can result in very negative consequences for terrestrial technologies.

Solar storms can cause malfunctions and complete shutdowns of power grids, as well as satellites in orbit. Currently, the Sun has entered a phase of peak activity, which means that a severe geomagnetic storm could arise as soon as 2025.

Kestutis Ikamas from Vilnius University points out that major power supply networks around the world are at risk and that large-scale protective measures are needed to prevent the dangerous impacts of a powerful geomagnetic storm.

According to the scientist, a very intense geomagnetic storm could disable critical systems such as electricity, water supply, and telecommunications, leading to prolonged outages of power, communication, and the internet. Such outages could last for several months.

It is known that in 1859, the most powerful solar storm disrupted the global telegraph network, leaving people without communication for an extended period. However, there are now many more technologies vulnerable to solar activity.

Extensive power transmission lines span thousands of kilometers in certain regions of the Earth. This makes them sensitive to currents caused by solar storms. According to Ikamas, charged solar particles can cause voltage spikes that damage transformers. When this happens on a large scale, entire power grids risk going offline for an unknown duration.

Systems that protect satellites and power grids do exist, but they may not withstand a powerful solar storm, the scientist states.

In addition to humans, animals that rely on magnetic fields for navigation could also be affected by a strong geomagnetic storm, as they may lose their usual sense of spatial orientation.

Ikamas suggests that technology manufacturers and governments collaborate to develop detailed protocols that can be implemented in the event of a threat of a severe geomagnetic storm.

As digital networks extend across entire continents, an outage in one region can have almost immediate repercussions in other areas. Ikamas warns that limited spending on network upgrades today could pave the way for widespread chaos in the future.