Discovery and Methodology
Researchers identified a colossal solar particle storm dating back to 12,350 B.C., utilizing a novel climate-chemistry model, SOCOL:14C-Ex, to analyze ancient radiocarbon spikes in tree rings.
This event, surpassing the intensity of any modern solar storms by over 500 times, was confirmed through radiocarbon measurements from wood samples found in the , dating back 14,300 years.
Implications and Future Research
The discovery sets a new benchmark for understanding the potential impact of solar storms on modern technology, emphasizing the need for preparedness against such extreme space weather.
Researchers propose further studies to explore the possibility of such events being superflare occurrences, which could revolutionize our understanding of solar physics and its effects on Earth.