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I-15 rollover in Clearfield injures 2

Sun

Solar storms mark changes that will eventually kill all life on Earth

Last updated Monday, March 19, 2012 - 9:26am

You didn't need to be a solar physicist to be riveted by the "solar storm" that sent a blast of charged particles our way earlier this month. That particular flare-up fizzled, but in the long term, the sun's temper is worthy of our attention.

Our sun changes, and living things adapt or die.

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One of the strongest solar storms in years engulfed Earth early Thursday, but scientists say the planet may have lucked out. Hours after the storm arrived, officials said there were no reports of problems with power grids, GPS, satellites or other technologies that are often disrupted by solar storms.

Solar storm having limited impact

Seth Borenstein The Associated Press

Last updated Thursday, March 8, 2012 - 3:41pm

WASHINGTON -- One of the strongest solar storms in years engulfed Earth early Thursday, but scientists say the planet may have lucked out.

Solar flares, Solar storm, Space, Sun, National Read more Comments

An image released by NASA on March 5, 2012 is a view of a X1 solar flare in a new active region on the sun, region 1429. It has let loose two M-class flares and one X-class so far. The M-class flares erupted on March 2 and on March 4. The third flare, rated an X1, peaked at 10:30 ET on March 4. A CME accompanied each flare, though due to the fact that this active region is still off to the side of the sun, they will likely have a weak effect on Earth's magnetosphere. (AP Photo/NASA)

Scientists prepare for impact of solar storm on Earth

Seth Borenstein The Associated Press

Last updated Thursday, March 8, 2012 - 10:11am

WASHINGTON -- The largest solar storm in five years was due to arrive on Earth early Thursday, promising to shake the globe's magnetic field while expanding the Northern Lights.

The storm started with a massive solar flare earlier in the week and grew as it raced outward from the sun, expanding like a giant soap bubble, scientists said. When it strikes, the particles will be moving at 4 million mph.

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Biggest solar storm in years shooting toward Earth

Seth Borenstein The Associated Press

Last updated Wednesday, March 7, 2012 - 6:43pm

WASHINGTON -- Earth's magnetic field is about to be shaken like a snow globe by the largest solar storm in five years.

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Quest Academy, a charter school in West Haven, is using 44 solar panels to save money on electricity while teaching students about science and the environment. (Contributed image)

Solar panels to save money, teach about science and environment

Nancy Van Valkenburg Standard-Examiner

Last updated Thursday, March 1, 2012 - 7:19am

WEST HAVEN — Students, teachers and staffers at West Haven’s Quest Academy are pleased that the school will save a few thousand dollars a year with its new solar panels.

But the fun part for the science-themed charter school is what can be learned from its own private data-collection system on solar power.

Blue Sky Program, Charter schools, Children, Electricity, Event, Quest Academy, Rocky Mountain Power, Science, Solar, Solar energy, Solar panels, Sun, Utah, Featured Read more Comments

Thishandout image provided by NASA, taken Sunday night, shows a solar flare erupting on the sun. Space weather officials say the strongest solar storm in more than six years is already bombarding Earth with radiation, with more to come. Physicist Doug Biesecker said the biggest concern from the speedy eruption is the radiation, which arrived on Earth an hour later.

USU prof. says it's safe to enjoy solar flares

Nancy Van Valkenburg Standard-Examiner

Last updated Thursday, January 26, 2012 - 7:39am

LOGAN — Solar flares nearly 93 million miles away have sparked both awe and concerns this week on our small blue-green planet.

People intrigued by space and beauty have enjoyed photographic images of the flaring sun, and of aurora borealis effects the flare caused on Earth.

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This undated photo provided by Cedar Breaks National Monument shows tourists star-gazing at the Cedar Breaks National Monument in Utah. Defined simply as traveling to study astronomy and observe the sky, astro-tourism has been a staple of Iron County for years. (AP Photo/Courtesy of Cedar Breaks National Monument via Daily Spectrum)

Southern Utah hopes to benefit from 'astrotourism'

Josh Huntsman The Daily Spectrum

Last updated Thursday, January 26, 2012 - 11:41am

KANARRAVILLE -- As one of the best places on earth to view the annular solar eclipse May 20, the sleepy town of Kanarraville may prove to be a tourism hot spot this year.

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This handout image provided by NASA, taken Sunday night, Jan. 22, 2012, shows a solar flare erupting on the Sun's northeastern hemisphere. Space weather officials say the strongest solar storm in more than six years is already bombarding Earth with radiation with more to come. The Space Weather Prediction Center in Colorado observed a flare Sunday night at 11 p.m. EST. Physicist Doug Biesecker said the biggest concern from the speedy eruption is the radiation, which arrived on Earth an hour later. It will likely continue through Wednesday. It's mostly an issue for astronauts' health and satellite disruptions. It can cause communication problems for airplanes that go over the poles. (AP Photo/NASA)

Solar storm sends charged particles toward Earth

Amina Khan Los Angeles Times

Last updated Tuesday, January 24, 2012 - 12:24pm

A massive explosion on the sun's surface has triggered the largest solar radiation storm since 2005 and has unleashed a torrent of charged plasma particles toward Earth, though the threat to satellites, power grids and other high-tech hardware is believed to be manageable, scientists said.

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(DAVE MARTIN/The Associated Press) Alivia Parker, 21 months, runs through circles of spraying water on a 100-degree day in Montgomery, Ala., Tuesday. Parker is wearing sunscreen with an SPF of 100. Federal regulators will require sunscreen manufacturers to test their products’ effectiveness against sun rays that pose the greatest risk of skin cancer. Under new rules, manufacturers also will have to follow stricter guidelines when describing how well their products block ultraviolet B rays — and the highest SPF value will be capped at 50, unless companies provide results of testing that support a higher number.

New rules to block sunscreen confusion

Matthew Perrone, The Associated Press

Last updated Tuesday, June 14, 2011 - 11:24pm

WASHINGTON -- Help is on the way if you're confused by sun protection numbers and other claims on sunscreens. Starting next summer, you can find SPF 15 bottles and tubes with the label "broad spectrum" and feel confident they're lowering your risk of skin cancer.

Business, Cancer, FDA, Melanoma, Safety, Sun, Tanning, Utah, Featured, Swimming Read more Comments

Astronomers discover new type of supernova

Amina Khan, Los Angeles Times

Last updated Wednesday, June 8, 2011 - 5:19pm

A team led by astronomers at the California Institute of Technology has discovered a new type of supernova that may burn 100 times brighter than typical exploding stars -- and they're trying to figure out exactly how this new type works.

The study, which identified four newly discovered supernovae as part of this unknown class, also solves the mystery behind two previously unexplained events -- one that had been thought to be an extremely luminous type II supernova, and another whose nature had scientists completely baffled.

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(Courtesy photo) Metastatic melanoma is the advanced and generally lethal form of skin cancer.

2 drugs shown effective in treatment of lethal skin cancer

Los Angeles Times, Thomas H. Maugh II

Last updated Sunday, June 5, 2011 - 8:53pm

LOS ANGELES — Two new drugs can significantly lengthen survival in patients with metastatic melanoma, the advanced and generally lethal form of skin cancer, researchers reported Sunday.

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Massive explosion, comet collision recorded on sun

SPACE.com, Tariq Malik

Last updated Friday, May 13, 2011 - 3:34pm

A comet plunged into the sun this week just as a huge eruption exploded from the star's surface, but the two events are likely not related, NASA scientists say.

NASA's Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) spotted the ill-fated comet diving toward the sun between Tuesday and Wednesday (May 10 and 11), never to be seen again.

By coincidence, a massive explosion on the sun called a coronal mass ejection also erupted at about the same time. Coronal mass ejections are immense bursts of plasma that hurl solar particles away from the sun at incredible speeds.

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