#Ultraviolet Catastrophe

[bandcampsnoop]

9/11/24.

"Metro Subterranean" is a 4 band split recently released by San Francisco based label/store Dark Entries Records. I was introduced to the label years ago when I bought both Lives of Angels reissues. We also posted about the Sad Lovers & Giants reissue.

The album starts with Bastidas, a more recent band (started in 2007 and apparently still active). The next three bands - UltraViolet Catastrophe (UVC), Pink Stiletto, and Nervous Gender all are from the late 70s and early 80s.

Post-punk, goth and disco sounds can be found her. UVC hit me most immediately due to their minimalist sound reminiscent of Young Marble Giants.

[nacrelysis]

in spite of divine warning, orpheus looks back. eve eats the apple. pandora opens the box. chang'e takes the immortality pill. something something about in warning us against something, we humans are made aware that we had the choice to do otherwise. warnings often doom their listeners because we are reminded of our freedom to doom ourselves, or something.

[tomorrowusa]

Dr. Anthony Fauci voluntarily testified before a House committee and debunked MAGA Republican conspiracy theories regarding the COVID-19 pandemic.

While Donald Trump and his lickspittles were telling Americans to drink bleach, take useless malaria pills, stick ultraviolet lights up their butts, and eat horse paste, Dr. Fauci headed an effort to develop vaccines for COVID-19.

A reminder to people with short memories who view the Trump administration as some sort of bucolic paradise: The last quarter of that administration included the worst government response to an infectious disease outbreak since 1920. Trumpsters who want us to ignore Trump's horribly botched response to the pandemic are like cruise-liner enthusiasts who want us to ignore the last 2% of the voyage of the Titanic.

Economic activity ground to a halt in 2020 as the US slid into a recession. I took this picture of a sign at a dollar store which had been completely closed for almost two months.

The whole Trump clan was disdainful of the sacrifices hundreds of millions of Americans were making.

Why has the U.S. COVID-19 response been so bad? Jared Kushner, Vanity Fair suggests.

At Times Square Jared and Ivanka's contemptuousness was made into an ad before Election Day.

If you are looking for the Original Sin of Trump's pandemic response, it was on January 22nd when he basically told CNBC's Joe Kernen that COVID-19 was nothing to worry about.

Of course it wasn't "just fine".

Trump did not declare a state of emergency for seven weeks. That gave the virus plenty of time for it to spread throughout the US.

Republicans know that their Dear Leader totally mishandled the pandemic response. That's why they repeatedly try to make Dr. Fauci a type of scapegoat for Trump's horrendous incompetence. Dr. Fauci has spent his entire career fighting disease. Donald Trump has spent his entire career narcissistically promoting himself.

Harry Truman had a sign on his desk saying: "The Buck Stops Here!" If Trump had a sign on his Oval Office desk (which he seldom used except for photo ops) it would be: "It's Everybody's Fault But Mine!"

Don't be hesitant to remind people of how awful 2020 was. And point the finger of blame at the orange blob who was responsible for the catastrophe.

[quasi-normalcy]

My intuition tells me that explaining quantum entanglement in biological systems is one of those loose ends in physics that *seems* like a minor detail, but which, if pulled upon, will end up completely revolutionizing our understanding of nature. Like the 21st century's answer to the ultraviolet catastrophe.

[carbonbasedmatter]

VI ARCANE PLAYLIST YIPEE💥💥💥 (this is how I cope guys)

okay I put way too much thought into this- it's kind of still a work in progress but I tried to make it in chronological order of the events that happened in the show from her point of view (not including the first fiveish songs they're just general vi vibes) + songs I associate with her relationship with jinx and caitlyn

this is very influenced by my own music taste obviously but I can see her listening to a lot of these as well...so...yeah :)

[eightyonekilograms]

It is very common to introduce quantum physics in an historical context. Though there are advantages to this, it is a problem that many of the stories that have become central to the physics lore are mere pseudo-histories far detached from the real events. It is about time that we stop uncritically copying these stories and instead make an effort to present the development of quantum physics as it actually was. This paper deals with one of the most common myths in quantum history, the one about the ultraviolet catastrophe and how it motivated Planck's introduction of quantum physics. On closer inspection it turns out this story has the time-line completely turned on its head. The ultraviolet catastrophe was first discussed several years after Planck published his radiation law so it played no role in his motivation. Instead Planck was concerned with finding a theoretical derivation of the law for blackbody radiation. This law was first thought to be Wien's radiation law, but when new data disagreed, Planck came up with his own law that fitted the data. Planck's radiation law first came about as an elaborate fit to data and to derive it he found no other way than to use statistical mechanics and divide the energy that was to be distributed on the atomic oscillators into packages hf so that he could count the number of ways to distribute this energy. Planck did not consider this a quantization, but merely a mathematical trick to be able to calculate the entropy of the oscillators.

@raginrayguns

[rlyehtaxidermist]

a hifuu baby is one of the most slept on touhou fankids because it poses the hilarious question of where exactly they fit in the broader Ultraviolet Catastrophe Timeline. what is the funniest part of the human* life cycle for one's mother to suddenly develop a case of Being Yakumo Yukari. inquiring minds want to know

[mariette]

Ultraviolet catastrophe

[richardsphere]

Leverage Redemption Log: The Work Study Job

Ultraviolet catastrophe is indeed a great bandname.

Girl walks in, "how could you"... im putting money on plagiarism? (its the only crime i can think of a student could figure out. Sure he could be working on a quantumphysics/nucear radiation based weapon for the military, but a student wouldnt know) Pressed continue, im right. Stage fright/anxiety. As someone who has never been diagnosed with anxiety but has some pretty anxiety-esque tendencies... this will be a hard episode for me. --- Skipping over the "client meeting" bit, cause nothing much happened there (besides the obvious) Back at the theatre Breanna has the powerpoint. Turns out, not only is he a fraud he's also a climate-change denialist (not because he doesnt believe in it, lobbyists just pay him).

Turns out Harry used to go to this school (he also used to do "little yellow pills")

Harry and Breanna are ideologically seperated? (i dont think they are, Harry isnt saying "the system works", for godssake he's on team leverage AKA team fuck the system) but we're gonna be force-fed some BS here. But Breanna is being really harsh here. Like all Harry is saying is "I have connections here, and I have built up enough credit with 'donations' that these doors are open to us".

Harry: Look guys, The slow option exists and any crime involved in getting her her research back could permanently destroy the girls legitimately and ultimately cost her the very future we're trying to get her back. If we steal it from him and she gets her stuff back, he'll just claim she stole it from him. Sad Parker: But I love crime! Harry: Ok you can do a little crime, as a treat.

Sophie is calling the shot: We'll at least give the official route a chance. (She does not seem to be under any illusions it'll work but have to get started somewhere) --- I agree with Sophie, "ultimate frisbee" is a dumb name for a sport.

Dean Alreadyforgothisname drops a tech billionaire, which feels like either someone we'll return to later in the episode or a future mark.

Elliot is stealing the camerafeed for Breanna, But gets spotted by someone who redirects him elsewhere to fix whatever needs fixing. Parker complains that college campusses, campussi? Campi? are too easy. The one way to prevent Elliot from kicking your ass: Be someone he genuinely likes and/or pities. (he's gonna be evil isnt he? Obligatory third act twist) Harry cant distract this guy too long, They find the stuff (its behind the whiteboard) but while Parker manages to hide Breanna is found --- Breanna, when a mark says "oh you're the janitor" your response is "yes let me just take the trash out", confirm their suspicions and biases. But now that you've failed the slam dunk exit time to flatter his glasses and ego, (and bait him with a new, promising student he can plagiarise next) He tries to bait her with an impossible question, but she sees through it and exposits that she actually knows what she's talking about. But breanna has made herself an opening next monday --- So he's looking to "sell" (techcically lease) the patent to this clean fusion research to an oil company.

Mr "genius" doesnt seem to understand what "installed backwards"means.

Breanna stalls and redirects the oilguy, Floyd is about to interfere with Elliot. Harry is going to request the hearing,

Floyd is suprisingly happy with Elliot. Are we shock-therapying the Oilcorpo?

Oh Floyd has friends (presumably the actual backbone staff of the institution, secretaries, accountants etc.) --- Ok so its a secret Illuminati order of janitorial staff. I've seen this joke before but also, dont mess with the janitors man. They know where the bodies are hidden as well as where to hide yours.

As far as taking Gray down, Elliot just won the fucking lottery.

Meanwhile Harry gets what amounts to an out-and-open admission of corruption from the Dean. (Rule number 1: Never admit to your crimes where Leverage is near. They have recorders in their ears. The Dean's job priviliges are hereby revoked.)

"we need all the crime". Simple line but it works. 8.6/10 --- New plan: Convince Gray that the girl stole the research from a third party and its way more valuable then he thinks.

Breanna tells Emma to help Sophie

Sophie on a greenscreen doing a Ted Talk, Elliot plants a book with Sophies thesis in the library.

Gray just entered the suplycloset/Sophies Lair. Sophie, you could've waited 1 minute, given him the time to steal stuff on camera and strengthen your futures.

--- Time to feign Tech Billionaire Status (that guy from earlier is getting dropped again) HARDISON IS PLAYING THE SPACEBILLIONAIRE! I am loving this. They really realised exactly how much leniancy a greenscreen gave them to work around this guys schedule. the legit look of glee on Sophie's face when she realises Hardison is joining this con. She (character) doesnt even need to fake it. (i dont want to presume on the feelings of the actor)

Hardison, you ducked up your coverstory in the first line. A tech billionaire admitting that their people did the work not themselves? God if only we lived in a world where that really happened. (i mean an ideal world obviously wouldnt have billionaires in the first place but one step at a time)

Gray has taken the bait. Sophie boner-baits him into a rush decision.

Problem with a violin scam, what if they have an actual buyer lined up. --- Ok so list of problems: Getting Emma in the room, Goading Gray to over-extend. Getting rid of a billionaire's security. thats 1 big problem and like, 2 quarters of a problem. (Emma is the legit issue, anxiety sucks)

Huh this tech billionaire is actually rather open minded and sensible. Ah they let him realise they're conning him to move the guards out of play.

All the janitors working together to funnel this guy into his doom. Gray tries to prevent Emma from meeting the Tech Billionaire just in time for commercial break. (he's about to gloat on a wire, while the billionaire is locked in a box with a functioning speaker hearing him admit everything) --- Oh yeah the billionaire went to school here, he's been in Gray's class and knows enough science to know that when a professor claims to have all the answers rather then admit "i dont know that, i'll look into it" from time to time its a big red flag. Obviously fuck billionaires, but on the scale of fictional billionares this guy is pretty good.

"I have Tenure" "We have a Harry".

[erintihomas]

What are the Methods of Detecting Cracks in Industrial Tanks?

Industrial tanks are crucial components in various industries, from petrochemical to food processing. Ensuring their structural integrity is vital to prevent leaks, contamination, and potentially catastrophic failures. Effective crack detection methods are essential to maintain safety and efficiency. Here's a look at some of the most reliable techniques used by leading tank inspection companies.

1. Visual Inspection The most straightforward method, visual inspection, involves trained technicians examining the tank's surface for visible signs of cracks or damage. While this method can identify obvious defects, it often misses subsurface cracks and requires supplemental methods for comprehensive assessment.

2. Ultrasonic Testing (UT) Ultrasonic testing is a highly effective crack test inspection method that uses high-frequency sound waves to detect flaws. A transducer sends sound waves into the tank material; reflections from cracks are analyzed to determine their size and location. This method is widely used for its accuracy and ability to detect subsurface cracks.

3. Magnetic Particle Testing (MPT) Magnetic particle testing is another popular crack testing inspection technique. It involves magnetizing the tank's surface and applying ferrous particles. These particles gather around cracks, making them visible under ultraviolet light. MPT is particularly effective for detecting surface and slightly subsurface cracks in ferromagnetic materials.

4. Dye Penetrant Testing (DPT) Dye penetrant testing is a simple yet effective crack scan method. A dye solution is applied to the tank's surface and allowed to seep into any cracks. After a set period, excess dye is removed, and a developer is applied to draw out the dye from cracks, making them visible. This method is ideal for detecting fine surface cracks.

5. Radiographic Testing (RT) Radiographic testing uses X-rays or gamma rays to capture images of the tank's interior. This crack scanning technique is highly effective for detecting internal flaws that are not visible on the surface. It provides detailed images that help in assessing the severity of the cracks.

Each of these methods offers unique advantages, and often, a combination of techniques is used to ensure thorough crack detection. For industries relying on the integrity of their tanks, partnering with a specialized tank inspection company like Bioscan LTD ensures the highest standards of safety and reliability. Bioscan LTD offers comprehensive vessel crack test inspection services, utilizing state-of-the-art technology to keep your operations running smoothly.

Visit Bioscan LTD to learn more about their crack detection and inspection services.

[legrange-5]

Little miss black body radiation is negotiating with ultraviolet catastrophe

little miss awful body temperature regulation is taking his hoodie off again

[tomorrowusa]

I suspect that the vegetative MAGA crowd is showing the effects of Long COVID on their memories. They have forgotten that Trump's horribly botched response to the pandemic triggered a recession and caused unemployment to spike. Let's not even get into the death toll for 2020.

Sore LOSER Trump left office on 20 January 2021. The 12 months prior to that consisted of one disaster after another.

Nobel economics laureate Paul Krugman looked at "Trump-stalgia".

The Peculiar Persistence of Trump-stalgia

Soaring deaths aside, four years ago more than 20 million Americans were unemployed; Trump left office with the worst job record of any president since Herbert Hoover. Also, the country was in the grip of a violent crime wave, with murders soaring. Today, by contrast, we’ve just experienced the longest stretch of unemployment below 4 percent since the 1960s, and the violent crime wave — Trump didn’t cause it, but it did happen on his watch — has been rapidly receding. [ ... ] One common explanation of Trump-stalgia is that many people give the former president a mulligan for 2020, attributing all the bad things that happened in his final year to the Covid pandemic (and ignoring the extent to which Trump’s botched response to the pandemic added to the death toll). That is, when they say “four years ago” they actually mean “before the pandemic.” That surely explains part of what’s going on. But there are also problems with this story. If Trump gets a pass for the economic and social damage inflicted by the pandemic, why shouldn’t Biden get a similar pass for problems that manifested on his watch but surely reflected delayed effects of Covid disruptions? For example, ripple effects of the pandemic clearly explain a lot of the inflation surge of 2021-22. How do we know this? Because prices rose almost everywhere. Different nations measure inflation somewhat differently, but if you look at the Harmonized Index of Consumer Prices, which is available for a number of countries, you find that cumulative inflation since the beginning of the pandemic has been almost eerily similar in the United States and in Europe. Also, Trump boosters aren’t consistent about sending 2020 down the memory hole. Trump claimed that he presided over gasoline prices of less than $2 a gallon, but this was true only for a couple of months in 2020 — a period when global oil prices were low because the pandemic had the world economy flat on its back.

Trump can't get away from his pandemic catastrophe. Telling Americans to drink bleach, take ineffective malaria pills, and stick ultraviolet lights up their butts certifies him as a two-bit quack. And it took him 50 days after the first COVID-19 case appeared in the US before he declared an emergency. Remember his infamous January 22nd comments on CNBC?

It wasn't "just fine".

As for now, feelings haven't caught up with the facts.

Trump-stalgia is undoubtedly a powerful force. Biden helped lead us through a time of turmoil — much of which happened even before he took office — to a pretty good place, with very low unemployment, fairly low inflation and falling crime. But many Americans seem unaware of the good news; for example, the drop in crime doesn’t appear to have broken through to public consciousness at all. And there seems to be a romanticized vision of what things were like under Biden’s predecessor, which somehow omits the terrible things that happened in 2020. So are you better off than you were four years ago? For most Americans, the answer is clearly yes. But for reasons that still remain unclear, many seem disinclined to believe it.

Good news is seldom reported. And when it does occur these days, you absolutely won't hear it on Fox News.

One thing that's certainly worse now is the situation regarding reproductive freedom. Roe v. Wade got overturned by the US Supreme Court in 2022. Though if Hillary Clinton had made those three appointments to SCOTUS instead of Donald Trump, Roe v. Wade would have been upheld by a 7 to 2 vote instead of being tossed.

Remind people (repeatedly!) of who appointed the SCOTUS justices who made abortion nearly impossible in many states. In an age of short attention spans and low information voters, don't assume that everybody knows. Trump bragged about killing Roe v. Wade – his influence lives on through his awful appointments to the federal courts.

Most Americans probably couldn't pass those simplistic civics tests given to wannabe new citizens. Patiently explains how the system works – or is supposed to.

Even when times are good, people will still find stuff to complain about. As the late author Randall Jarrell wrote: "The people who live in a Golden Age usually go around complaining how yellow everything looks."

Though this may not exactly be a "golden age", it beats avoidable pandemic dystopia, a coup attempt, and dreadful appointments to the federal courts. And it's certainly superior to having Trump back as a sleazy dictator on day one.

[skyintelli]

How Advanced Drone Technology is Enhancing Safety, Efficiency, and Reliability

How Advanced Drone Technology is Enhancing Safety, Efficiency, and Reliability

Infrastructure plays a crucial role in supporting modern society, from the delivery of energy to the transportation of critical resources. However, maintaining the integrity of pipelines and powerlines has always been a challenging and labor-intensive task. With the advancement of aerial technology, drones that detect pipeline defects and drones that detect powerline defects are now transforming how companies monitor, maintain, and protect their valuable infrastructure assets.

Traditional inspection methods often require manual surveys, helicopter flyovers, or shutting down operations — all of which can be costly, time-consuming, and sometimes dangerous. The introduction of specialized drones offers a smarter, safer, and far more efficient solution to detecting problems before they escalate into catastrophic failures.

The Importance of Early Defect Detection

For both pipelines and powerlines, early detection of defects is critical to avoiding costly repairs, environmental damage, and service disruptions. Cracks, corrosion, insulation breakdowns, and structural weaknesses are often invisible to the naked eye until it’s too late. Traditional methods can miss subtle warning signs, but drone-based inspections equipped with advanced sensors can detect even the smallest irregularities with exceptional accuracy.

The ability to identify potential issues proactively allows asset owners to perform targeted maintenance, extend the lifespan of their infrastructure, and ensure the safety of both the environment and the public.

How Drones Detect Pipeline Defects

Drones that detect pipeline defects utilize a combination of high-resolution cameras, thermal imaging, LiDAR sensors, and sometimes even gas-detection payloads to monitor vast pipeline networks. These technologies enable drones to quickly scan long stretches of pipeline for signs of:

Corrosion and material degradation

Leakage hotspots detected through thermal anomalies

Ground disturbances indicating possible leaks

Surface cracks and deformations

Vegetation encroachment that could threaten pipeline integrity

Using drones drastically reduces the need for manual inspections, which often involve hazardous conditions or remote terrain. A drone can cover hundreds of miles of pipeline in a fraction of the time, capturing precise, actionable data that can be analyzed in real-time or post-flight.

Moreover, thermal cameras can detect temperature variations caused by escaping gases or fluid leaks, even when such leaks are invisible to standard optical inspections. This non-invasive technique provides a significant advantage for early intervention and repair.

How Drones Detect Powerline Defects

Similarly, drones that detect powerline defects are revolutionizing the energy sector. Power companies have traditionally relied on ground crews or helicopters to inspect transmission and distribution lines — both methods that are expensive and sometimes dangerous.

With drones, inspectors can safely evaluate:

Broken or frayed wires

Damaged insulators

Corrosion on metallic components

Vegetation encroachment risks

Structural damage to towers and poles

Loose fittings and connectors

Using advanced imaging technologies like high-resolution zoom cameras, thermal sensors, and even ultraviolet (UV) cameras, drones can uncover issues like hotspots that indicate overloaded or damaged components.

This aerial perspective, combined with automated flight paths and machine learning analysis, means that inspections are not only faster but also more consistent and less prone to human error. Drones can easily access hard-to-reach places without risking worker safety, ensuring that defects are detected early and addressed before causing service interruptions.

The Benefits of Using Drones for Infrastructure Inspection

Employing drones that detect pipeline defects and drones that detect powerline defects offers multiple advantages:

Enhanced Safety: Minimizes the need for workers to operate in hazardous environments.

Cost Efficiency: Reduces inspection costs compared to traditional methods.

Speed: Rapid deployment and faster data collection.

Accuracy: High-resolution imagery and sensor data reveal issues invisible to the naked eye.

Environmental Protection: Early leak detection prevents ecological disasters.

Regulatory Compliance: Helps companies meet increasingly stringent inspection requirements.

Data Management: Drones collect digital data that can be stored, analyzed, and compared over time to track asset conditions.

These benefits not only improve operational performance but also support corporate sustainability goals and public safety initiatives.

The Future of Drone-Based Infrastructure Monitoring

The future of infrastructure monitoring is being shaped by even smarter drones. Integration with AI and machine learning is allowing for real-time defect detection, pattern recognition, and predictive maintenance models. This means drones will not only detect current issues but also forecast potential future problems based on historical and environmental data trends.

In addition, as beyond-visual-line-of-sight (BVLOS) regulations evolve, drones will be able to autonomously patrol entire pipeline and powerline networks without the need for constant manual oversight. Combined with advancements in battery life, sensor resolution, and 5G communication, drones will become an indispensable part of infrastructure management.

Partnering with Experts in Drone Inspection Technology

To maximize the advantages of drone technology, it's crucial to work with a provider that understands both the technology and the unique challenges of infrastructure inspection. For companies seeking reliable, cutting-edge drone solutions for defect detection, Skyintelli, Inc is the partner of choice.

Skyintelli, Inc specializes in deploying advanced drone systems tailored for industrial inspection, including solutions for pipelines and powerlines. With expertise in aerial data collection, defect analysis, and regulatory compliance, Skyintelli, Inc helps organizations elevate their inspection programs, reduce risks, and protect their critical infrastructure investments. Trust Skyintelli, Inc to guide you into the future of safer, smarter infrastructure monitoring.

[bookofaward]

Supernovae: Earth's Mass Extinction Triggers

A new study suggests that at least two mass extinction events in Earth's history were triggered by the catastrophic effects of nearby supernova explosions. These immense stellar blasts, marking the death of massive stars, could have stripped Earth's atmosphere of its ozone layer, triggered acid rain, and exposed life to lethal ultraviolet radiation. Researchers link supernovae to the late Devonian (372 million years ago) and Ordovician (445 million years ago) extinctions, highlighting the profound impact of cosmic events on Earth's biosphere. This discovery reshapes our understanding of how celestial phenomena have influenced the planet’s evolutionary history.

Visit Us : bookofaward.com

[addendumbeekeeper]

Already taken this test and i got the same thing taking it this time! I think it’s accurate hahah but not too sure

tags (no pressure):

@heynowimalooser @yetanotheralien-heartemoji @an-ultraviolet-catastrophe

found a fun little personality test!

i am open tagging as always bc i wanna see everyone’s results!!!!!!

[spacenutspod]

Predicting space weather is more complex than predicting traditional weather here on Earth. One of the most unpredictable kinds of space weather is solar flares, which explode out from the surface of the Sun and can potentially damage sensitive equipment like electrical grids and the ISS. The Carrington Event, one of the most violent solar storms in history, literally caused telegraph lines to catch fire when it occurred in 1859 – a similar storm would be much more devastating today. Due to their potentially destructive potential, scientists have long looked for ways to predict when a storm will happen, and now a team led by Emily Mason of Predictive Sciences, Inc. in San Diego thinks they might have found a way to do just that. Solar flares typically occur in highly magnetic areas of the Sun. However, they aren’t the only events that occur in those regions—another, less potentially hazardous event is a coronal loop. These look like giant arches of particles that start from and connect back to the Sun’s outer layer, also called its corona.  Scientists have long thought there might be some sort of tie between coronal loops and the solar flares that emerge from the same region. However, the lifespan for coronal loops ranges from seconds to weeks, and scientists have yet to find a valid link between that metric, or any other, and the occurrence of a solar flare in the same region. Fraser discusses the danger of solar storms. Dr. Mason and her colleagues thought they might take a different approach. They got some observational time on the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO), a telescope in geosynchronous orbit explicitly designed to observe the coronal layer. They used SDO’s extreme ultraviolet wavelength observational capabilities to observe coronal loops in regions that eventually formed a flare versus those that didn’t. They observed areas that produced around 50 flares and found that the amount of variability in extreme ultraviolet light the coronal loops in those areas put off was much higher than in the areas that didn’t produce a flare. Essentially, the coronal loops acted like “flashing warning lights” in a certain kind of light spectrum, according to a press release from NASA’s Goddard Institute, some of whose scientists contributed to the paper.  The discovery was critical because the flashing appeared to take place consistently a few hours before a flare was formed. In technical terms, they accurately predicted the onset of a flare about 2-6 hours beforehand, about 60-80% of the time. That might not seem like great odds and even lesser warning, but some warning is better than none. When given the decision between frying half of the Earth’s electrical grid in a few hours and taking preventive measures, I think policymakers would at least appreciate the opportunity to have a choice. Fraser talks about how bad the Carrington Event was, even almost 200 years ago. There are some other nuances in the data, such as stronger flares appear to be predicted by earlier peaking flickering, however more work still needs to be done. Ultimately, this research aims to develop a system of automatically warning the appropriate authorities if there is a potentially hazardous solar event coming our way, but without so many false positives that they feel the system is crying wolf. That automated system is still a little way off, but this research is a step in the right direction. SDO was initially launched in 2010 and has long outlived its original 5-year mission plan. However, there are plenty of instruments constantly watching the Sun, and undoubtedly, there will be more soon. Maybe they will someday contribute to finalizing a system that will one day save civilization from an avoidable catastrophe. Learn More:NASA – NASA Solar Observatory Sees Coronal Loops Flicker Before Big FlaresKniezewski et al – 131 and 304 Å Emission Variability Increases Hours Prior to Solar Flare OnsetUT – New Research Indicates the Sun may be More Prone to Flares Than we ThoughtUT – High-Resolution Images of the Sun Show How Flares Impact the Solar Atmosphere Lead Image:NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory captured this image of coronal loops above an active region on the Sun in mid-January 2012. The image was taken in the 171 angstrom wavelength of extreme ultraviolet light. Credit – NASA/Solar Dynamics Observatory The post Coronal Loops Flicker Right Before the Sun Unleashes Big Flares appeared first on Universe Today.