Impact of solar storm from 12350BC could be much worse than what we knew

The most powerful solar particle storm known to date struck Earth in 12350 BC, according to a new study that sets a 'new worst case scenario' for humanity from such colossal space weather events.
The latest findings, published in the journal Earth and Planetary Science Letters, confirm that the extreme event from 14,300 years ago is nearly 20 per cent stronger than the notorious 775 AD solar storm, known until now as the strongest.
"Compared to the largest event of the modern satellite era – the 2005 particle storm – the ancient 12350 BC event was over 500 times more intense," said astronomer and study author Kseniia Golubenko from the University of Oulu in Finland.
Solar particle storms are emissions from the Sun packed with an enormous amount of high-energy particles.
While rare, they can be several times more devastating than the kind of solar storms that batter Earth every year, creating spectacular auroras and the occasional power blackouts.
Large solar particle storms are known to have occurred around 994 AD, 663 BC, 5259 BC, and 7176 BC, and a few other candidates are under investigation.
These storms were 'up to three orders of magnitude stronger than' any solar particle event observed directly by satellites in the modern age, according to a study published last year.
Researchers warn that if such a solar particle storm were to hit Earth when its magnetic field is weakened, it could damage DNA in humans and impair aquatic ecosystems.
In the latest study, scientists developed a model to assess the solar particle storm intensity during the last Ice Age.
Such solar storms tend to enhance the normal production of radioactive forms of elements like carbon (14C) in the atmosphere by cosmic rays.
Radiocarbon gets preserved in annual tree rings, and spikes in its levels – known as Miyake events – serve as a cosmic timestamp for dating extreme solar activity and cosmic weather.
Researchers validated their new model using tree ring data from the 775 AD event, and then applied it to assess conditions during the dusk of the last Ice Age around 12350 BC.
Scientists assessed the strength, timing, and terrestrial effects of the most extreme solar particle event.
Their latest findings revise our understanding of solar physics and space weather extremes.
"This event establishes a new worst-case scenario,' Dr Golubenko says.
"Understanding its scale is critical for evaluating the risks posed by future solar storms to modern infrastructure like satellites, power grids, and communication systems,' she added.

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Daily Mail​

3 hours ago

• Daily Mail​

The Gulf Stream is on the verge of COLLAPSING, scientists warn - as they find the first concrete evidence of major ocean circulation system weakening

In the 2004 film 'The Day After Tomorrow', Earth enters a sudden period of flash freezing due to the collapse of the Gulf Stream. People and buildings are buried under mountains of ice and snow, as freezing cold winds whip vehicles into the air. Now, a study has revealed that this could soon become a reality. Scientists from the University of California, Riverside, have warned that the Gulf Stream has been weakening for more than 100 years - and could soon collapse altogether. The Gulf Stream is only a small part of a much wider system of currents, officially called the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC). Described as 'the conveyor belt of the ocean', AMOC transports warm, salty water near the ocean's surface northwards from the tropics up to the northern hemisphere, keeping Europe, the UK and the US east coast temperate. Worryingly, if the AMOC does collapse, it could plunge large parts of Europe into a deep freeze - with parts of the UK dropping to as low as -30°C. 'This work shows the AMOC has been weakening for more than a century. That trend is likely to continue if greenhouse gases keep rising,' said Professor Wei Liu, an author of the study. The researchers point to a strange patch of cold water south of Greenland and Iceland, about 1,000 miles wide, that really shouldn't be there. Unlike the water surrounding it, this 'stubborn' patch of cold water has resisted global warming for more than a century, long fueling debate amongst scientists. Now, the new study, published in the journal Communications Earth & Environment, finally links it to a long-term weakening of the AMOC. 'People have been asking why this cold spot exists; we found the most likely answer is a weakening AMOC,' said lead study author Wei Liu. Lui and a colleague analysed about 100 years of salinity and temperature data, which can be used to understand the strength of the AMOC. When the AMOC slows down, less heat and salt reach the North Atlantic, leading to cooler, fresher, less salty surface waters. From these long-term salinity and temperature records, they reconstructed changes in the circulation system and compared those with nearly 100 different climate models. They found that only the models simulating a weakened AMOC matched the real-world data – indicating that a weakened AMOC was the only possible cause for the blob. While previous studies have offered evidence that the AMOC is weakening, this anomalous blob in the Atlantic offers physical, tangible evidence What is the AMOC? The Gulf Stream is a small part of a much wider system of currents, officially called the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation or AMOC. Described as 'the conveyor belt of the ocean', it transports warm water near the ocean's surface northwards - from the tropics to the northern hemisphere. When the warm water reaches the North Atlantic (Europe and the UK, and the US east coast), it releases the heat and then freezes. As this ice forms, salt is left behind in the ocean water. Due to the large amount of salt in the water, it becomes denser, sinks, and is carried southwards – back towards the tropics – in the depths below. Eventually, the water gets pulled back up towards the surface and warms up in a process called upwelling, completing the cycle. Scientists think AMOC brings enough warmth to the northern hemisphere that without it, large parts of Europe could enter a deep freeze. Professor Li described it as a 'very robust correlation', adding: 'If you look at the observations and compare them with all the simulations, only the weakened-AMOC scenario reproduces the cooling in this one region.' Until now, some climate scientists had thought the random cool patch south of Greenland has been due to atmospheric factors such as aerosol pollution. But computer models testing this theory have before now failed to recreate the actual, observed cooling – as these experts have done with the now-proven AMOC theory. The team say the study strengthens future climate forecasts, especially those concerning Europe, where the influence of the AMOC is most pronounced. While previous studies have offered evidence that the AMOC is weakening, this anomalous blob in the Atlantic offers physical, tangible evidence. Professor Liu emphasized the complexity of the AMOC's role in the global climate, but warned what a total collapse of the system could mean. 'The overall impact on ecosystems and weather patterns, both in the Arctic and globally, could still be severe,' he said. Professor David Thornalley, a climate scientist at University College London who was not involved with the study, said temperatures would plummet if the AMOC collapsed. 'An AMOC collapse could cause more weather extremes, so as well as overall colder-than-average conditions, we also expect that there would be more winter storms caused by stronger westerly winds,' he previously told MailOnline. Why could the AMOC collapse? Scientists think melting glaciers could cause the collapse of the AMOC, the system of ocean currents. Described as 'the conveyor belt of the ocean', the AMOC transports warm water near the ocean's surface northwards – from the tropics up to the northern hemisphere. Prior studies have already shown that due to climate change, the AMOC is slowing down. The engine of this conveyor belt is off the coast of Greenland, where, as more ice melts from climate change , more freshwater flows into the North Atlantic and slows everything down. 'Unfortunately people would die due to stronger winter storms and flooding, and many old and young would be vulnerable to the very cold winter temperatures.' In the UK, the effects could be 'minor' compared with elsewhere around the world, Professor Thornalley added. 'A collapse in AMOC would cause a shift in the tropical rainfall belt which would massively disrupt agriculture and water supplies across huge swathes of the globe,' he said. 'Many millions would be affected and suffer from drought, famine and flooding, in countries that are already struggling to deal with these issues. There would be huge numbers of climate refugees, geopolitical tensions would rise.' Jonathan Bamber, a professor of Earth observation at the University of Bristol, agreed that if the AMOC were to collapse, the climate of northwest Europe would be 'unrecognisable compared to what it is today'. 'It would be several degrees cooler so that winters would be more typical of Arctic Canada and precipitation would decrease also,' he told MailOnline. 'Very harsh, cold winters would certainly be a threat to life.' In 'The Day After Tomorrow', a collapse of the AMOC takes place over a matter of days and the fictional weather immediately switches to extreme cold. Thankfully, such a rapid transition will not happen in real life, said Penny Holliday, head of marine physics and ocean circulation at the National Oceanography Centre in Southampton. 'If the AMOC does reach a tipping point it will happen over several decades at least,' she told MailOnline. 'However a slowdown of the AMOC, whether it is fast-acting or takes place over many decades, will lead to the generation of more extreme and violent weather systems that have the potential to cause deaths and major damage.' Last week, another team of scientists reported temperatures could plunge to -30°C in Scotland if the AMOC collapsed, with Edinburgh spending nearly half of the year with a minimum temperature of below 0°C. London, meanwhile, would experience cold extremes of -19°C and record over two months' worth of additional days with sub-zero temperatures compared to the late 19th century. Is 'The Day After Tomorrow' an accurate portrayal of the future? Paleoclimate records constructed from Greenland ice cores have revealed that AMOC circulation has, indeed, shut down in the past and caused regional climate change, according to the University of Illinois. It caused the area around Greenland to cool by 44 degrees Fahrenheit. In the 2004 film 'The Day After Tomorrow,' New York City's temperature dramatically dropped to a point that a deep freeze appeared within a day. Even a second outside and the movie's characters would freeze to death. Scientists say the film plays up the shift, which would take decades to see, but note temperatures would dramatically decrease along the eastern US coast. Winters would become colder and storms more frequent that would linger longer throughout the year if the AMOC would come to a halt today. However, scientist say it isn't the cold temperatures that we should prepare for, it will be the rise in sea levels that will have the largest impact. The increase would be caused by water piling up along the east coast that would have been pushed away by the northward surface flow. But with AMOC weakened, or at a stop, experts say sea levels around the North Atlantic Basin could experience a rise up to nearly 20 inches. This would eventually push people living along the coast from their homes and further inland to escape flooding. A weakened AMOC would also decrease the amount of rainfalls in the North Atlantic that would cause intense droughts in areas that rarely experience such events.

The Sun

3 hours ago

• The Sun

Weekly nightmares ‘triple the risk of an early death' as scientists reveal what to do NOW

PEOPLE who suffer from weekly nightmares could be at higher risk of early death, researchers have warned. Adults who reported weekly nightmares were over three times more likely to die before the age of 70, compared to those who rarely or never had them, they found. 1 Researchers said night terrors were a 'stronger predictor of premature death' than other established risk factors, such as smoking, obesity, unhealthy diets and lack of exercise. They also linked frequent nightmares to accelerated biological ageing. Off the back of their findings, researchers shared "simple measures" to prevent nightmares - including "avoiding scary movies", setting up a good bedtime routine and keeping stress under control. The team - led by Dr Abidemi Otaiku of the UK Dementia Research Institute, and Imperial College London - analysed data from 2,429 children aged eight to 10 and 183,012 adults aged 26 to 86 over a period of 19 years. Adults were asked to report how often they experienced nightmares at the start of the study, while the parents of child participants reported how often their little ones suffered night terrors. Meanwhile, participants' biological age was assessed by measuring the length of their telomeres – small DNA sequences that serve as indicators of cellular ageing. The research, which was presented at the European Academy of Neurology (EAN) Congress this month, found that nightmares disrupt both sleep quality and duration. This impairs the body's ability to repair itself and restore cells throughout the night. Dr Otaiku said: 'Our sleeping brains cannot distinguish dreams from reality. 'That's why nightmares often wake us up sweating, gasping for breath, and with our hearts pounding – because our fight-or-flight response has been triggered. "This stress reaction can be even more intense than anything we experience while awake.' The combination of chronic stress and disrupted sleep likely speed up the ageing of our cells and bodies, study authors said. Results showed that adults who reported weekly nightmares were more than three times as likely to die prematurely - which researchers described as before the of age 70 - compared to those who rarely or never experienced nightmares. Children and adults with more frequent nightmares also exhibited faster biological ageing, which accounted for approximately 40 per cent of their heightened risk of death. Dr Otaiku added: 'Nightmares lead to prolonged elevations of cortisol, a stress hormone closely linked to faster cellular ageing. For those who frequently experience nightmares, this cumulative stress may significantly impact the ageing process. "Additionally, nightmares disrupt both sleep quality and duration, impairing the body's essential overnight cellular restoration and repair. "The combined effects of chronic stress and disrupted sleep likely contribute to the accelerated ageing of our cells and bodies.' Even monthly nightmares were linked to faster ageing and increased mortality compared to rare or no nightmares, study authors found. Tips to combat stress The Stress Management Society says . . . STAY CONNECTED. Look after your social wellbeing by staying in touch with others. Pick up the phone, talk, and ask for help. GET ENOUGH SLEEP. Set up a good bedtime routine and make your bedroom a tech-free zone. This will force you to switch off in this 'always on' world. PRIORITISE AND ORGANISE. Even if you work from home, try to keep work and personal space separate, create boundaries and prioritise the most important tasks for the start of the day. EAT HEALTHILY. Reduce sugar consumption to avoid energy crashes, avoid relying on stimulants such as caffeine and nicotine, and drink plenty of water to stay hydrated. SELF-CARE. Make time for things you enjoy and leave you feeling relaxed, whether it's mindfulness, reading, a walk, sport or watching TV. See The link between frequent nightmares and accelerated ageing was observed across all ages, sexes, ethnicities, and mental health conditions, which researchers said indicates a universal effect. The findings highlight the importance of reducing nightmare frequency across the population. 'The good news is that nightmares can be prevented and treated', Dr Otaiku said. 'Simple measures like avoiding scary movies, maintaining good sleep hygiene, managing stress, and seeking treatment for anxiety or depression can be effective. 'Those experiencing frequent nightmares that disrupt their quality of life may benefit from seeing a sleep specialist. "Effective psychological treatments, such as image rehearsal therapy, can be practised at home. "Recent research also suggests that therapies like CBT-I, which reduce nightmares, may significantly slow the ageing process', he added. Reflecting on the broader public health significance of these findings, Dr Otaiku stated: 'Given how common and modifiable nightmares are, they should be taken far more seriously as a public health concern. 'If further studies confirm the causal impact of nightmares on ageing and brain health, then preventing and treating them could become one of the simplest, most cost-effective strategies to slow ageing at a population level. "This would not only improve individual well-being but also help achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal of reducing premature death worldwide and promoting health for all.'

The Independent

4 hours ago

• The Independent

I drank kefir for a month and it made me feel like a superhuman – what's the secret behind this gut-friendly drink? (cloned)

While the plant-based revolution might have reduced the amount of lactose in our diets, certain dairy-based foods are making a comeback in the name of good health, and kefir is one of them. I used to think of kefir as one of those slightly icky health foods – probably incredibly good for you but mildly gross. Fermented yogurt? Not the sexiest foodstuff. So despite it being recommended by nutritionists, I eschewed kefir and opted for trendier foods and drinks like kombucha and kimchi instead. These other fermented foods were at least a step in the right direction, especially as new research suggests the health of our guts could be responsible for any number of complaints and maladies. One recent study found that the cure for clinical depression might lie in gut regulation, and another suggested we might sleep better if our gut bacteria were more stable. Foods and drinks that contain gut-friendly bacteria hold a lot of power and we're only just beginning to realise just how essential good gut health is for better long-term wellbeing. Nevertheless, a growing interest in the gut has led to a marketing boost for gut-friendly foods and, once again, kefir has appeared on my radar. 'Kefir is a cousin to yoghurt – the main difference being it contains more different strains of microbes. It's been around for thousands of years yet it's the rise in gut health over the last few years that has brought it back in vogue,' explains Dr Megan Rossi, who goes by The Gut Health Doctor. Dr Rossi continues: 'While there are limited clinical trials looking at the specific benefits, mechanistically it's thought to have added benefits to yoghurt given its high strain diversity and bacteria count. These include benefits with weight management, heart disease, plus a new study from Stanford University showed a high intake of fermented foods was linked with lower markers of inflammation.' One of the things I've become obsessed with in recent years is decreasing inflammation in my body and rolling back my biological age. I'm no Bryan Johnson, but I like to think I've done a pretty good job of this – a recent health scan showed my body's age to be five years younger than my actual age. So, given the reported health benefits of kefir and the fact that I was seeing it absolutely everywhere, I decided to give it a go. I drank kefir, which is high in natural probiotics like lacto and bifido bacterium, every day for 30 days, sipping two different brands in a variety of flavours – I tried natural kefir, kefir with added protein, honey and orange blossom kefir and strawberry to name but a few variations. Not only did I shock myself by absolutely loving the taste, I also loved the results. I had more energy, I felt fuller for longer after meals, my problematic hormonal skin looked better and I found myself looking forward to my morning glass. The skin might have been a red herring, but I was still pleased with how things were going. Dr Rossi recommends consuming 100-200mls of kefir daily, depending on the individual, and your desired outcome also dictates when you should drink it. If you're drinking it to aid digestion and improve your gut health, drinking it on an empty stomach is recommended. However, if you're drinking it as a snack or to improve satiety, after meals is the best time to have it. I opted for 100mls and drank it in the mornings before my breakfast. At this point, my morning routine is pretty detailed, what with all the other health drinks and supplements I take – I have water with electrolytes, a vanilla protein bone broth drink and a coffee with collagen powder, mushroom powder and MCT oil – so adding a small glass of kefir into the mix wasn't a tall order. At first I felt a little unsettled by the pale yogurt-like liquid and the smell of it. I didn't really enjoy the way it coated my tongue and it made the back of my throat feel unpleasant – they always say you should avoid dairy before public speaking for this exact reason. On one occasion I went to a health appointment and was asked to stick out my tongue. I panicked, thinking it would look weird because of all the kefir I'd drunk that morning – luckily I was told I had a very healthy-looking tongue. Of course, some people struggle more with just the slightly bizarre sensation of consuming a thick dairy drink. Those with dairy allergies should avoid dairy-based kefir and despite the fact that it contains low levels of lactose, those who are lactose intolerant should probably give it a miss too. Gut health factbox Experts explain how we can take better care of our gut and boost mood with the right foods 'You can get water kefir and dairy kefir,' Dr Rossi explains. 'Dairy kefir is made with milk and contains lactose, unlike water kefir which is made with sugary water. Generally speaking, homemade dairy kefir is thought to contain around 30 per cent less lactose as the fermentation process reduces some of the lactose present in standard milk.' If you want to avoid dairy altogether then water kefir is probably the way to go. Like kefir made from milk, it comes in a variety of forms and flavours and is suitable for vegans. Dr Rossi also adds that if you are immunocompromised or receiving cancer treatment it's not advised to make your own kefir at home, whether water or milk based, given the risk of contamination. Rather than making my own or drinking water kefir, I drank dairy Kefir from Biotiful and Bio&Me. Having tried plenty of other brands for my research into the best gut health drinks, these two were my favourites in terms of flavour, consistency and price. When it comes to separating a good quality kefir from a poorer quality one, Rossi recommends looking at the ingredient list. 'Sadly many brands are now adding sugars in the form of fruit extracts, versus using whole fruit, and others including new protein products have added sugar in the form of sucrose in them,' she explains. 'Many brands also include thickeners like pectin, which are unnecessary if you get the fermentation technique correct.' I've continued to drink a small glass of kefir each morning and it feels as though it's doing me good. A 2022 paper from the National Library of Medicine suggests that in several studies, kefir has been shown to, 'antagonise pathogens, reduce proinflammatory cytokine production, contribute to cytotoxicity of tumour cell lines and reduce tumour burden, and improve serum glycemic and lipid profiles.' This is high praise for a seemingly straightforward fermented drink. It's higher in protein than milk or traditional yogurt – Greek yogurt offers more protein per gram – and easy to get hold of as most supermarkets stock at least one brand and there are plenty to be found online. With gut health set to be one of the hottest topics in health and wellbeing this year, there's certainly no harm in trying kefir. The bacteria in a single serving could potentially support better digestion, improved immunity and lower inflammation in the body. Despite my initial hesitance to try it, I'm now a kefir convert and love the stuff.