[Diana in Wisconsin]

I was being silly, but this is actually, very interesting!

“Many telegraph lines across North America were rendered inoperable on the night of August 28 as the first of two successive solar storms struck. E.W. Culgan, a telegraph manager in Pittsburgh, reported that the resulting currents flowing through the wires were so powerful that platinum contacts were in danger of melting and “streams of fire” were pouring forth from the circuits. In Washington, D.C., telegraph operator Frederick W. Royce was severely shocked as his forehead grazed a ground wire. According to a witness, an arc of fire jumped from Royce’s head to the telegraphic equipment. Some telegraph stations that used chemicals to mark sheets reported that powerful surges caused telegraph paper to combust.”

http://www.history.com/news/a-perfect-solar-superstorm-the-1859-carrington-event

[Red Badger]

And that was in the 1850’s. Imagine what would happen today.....................................

[Gamecock]

Interesting thread. Thanks!

[Defiant]

Sounds like an opportunity to capture a lot of free energy.