Wednesday, July 29, 2026
Science

How tree rings help scientists understand disruptive extreme solar storms

Scientists have long relied on tree rings to learn about ancient solar storms—rare bursts of high-energy particles from the sun that can disrupt satellites, power grids, and communication systems across the planet. When these particles hit Earth's atmosphere, they create a radioactive form of carbon...

How tree rings help scientists understand disruptive extreme solar storms
Image: Phys.org
Scientists have long relied on tree rings to learn about ancient solar storms—rare bursts of high-energy particles from the sun that can disrupt satellites, power grids, and communication systems across the planet. When these particles hit Earth's atmosphere, they create a radioactive form of carbon that trees absorb and store in their wood.

Originally published at Phys.org

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