The flare matter takes about 48 hours to reach earth. A change in neutrino flux (or whatever the heck is causing this) could be travelling at light or near-light speeds.
Something effecting decay rates - THAT's the story here. It may for all I know be old news to particle physicists, but it's new to me!
I have a degree in Nuclear Medicine, so I am more familiar with decay concepts than many people, and this is news to me too.
I find this utterly fascinating. (Where’s that picture of Spock, now?)
Good point. The neutrinos may be reaching the surface of the sun well before the actual flare. More than anything it could be a great means of predicting flares and protecting astronauts.
Physics gets weird below the surface of the sun.