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Jamaica's De Cordova-Reid joins Leicester from Fulham
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Wolves' Kilman reunites with Lopetegui at West Ham
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Schmidt reign off to winning start as Australia beat Wales 25-16
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Russian wrestlers reject Olympics invitation
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Raducanu rediscovers Wimbledon 'fun' factor after turbulent spell
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Winning all that matters at Euro 2024 for Mbappe's minimalist France
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Eight dead, two million affected by Bangladesh floods
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Robertson pleased to 'find a way' past England in tough Test baptism
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Martin sets lap record to secure German MotoGP pole
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'Shattered' Germany set sights on World Cup after Euros exit
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Olympic hope Pedersen pulls out of Tour de France
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Djokovic eyes sweet 16 at Wimbledon as Swiatek takes on 'gangster'
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End beckons again for Ronaldo after Portugal Euros KO
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New Zealand edge England 16-15 in tense, brutal first Test
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Turkey take on Dutch in politically charged Euros quarter-final, England face Swiss
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Calling for better ties with West, Iran reformist wins presidency
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Cybercrime groups restructuring after major takedowns: experts
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Activists hail Sierra Leone child marriage ban, urge action on FGM
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Marsch relishing Canada's semi clash with Argentina
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Canada stun Venezuela on penalties to reach Copa semis
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Iran reformist Pezeshkian holds early lead in runoff vote
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Swiatek faces 'gangster' threat, Djokovic feels need for Wimbledon speed
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France holds its breath ahead of uncertain vote
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Starmer begins UK 'rebuild' after landslide election win
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Paris's Moulin Rouge inaugurates new windmill sails ahead of Olympics
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Pan, Rai share halfway lead in PGA John Deere Classic
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'I was feeling terrible' in debate, Biden says in TV interview
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France coach Deschamps savours ending penalty hoodoo, defends Mbappe
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Thompson bids farewell to Warriors after exit
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Portugal exit Euros with pride, will return stronger: Martinez
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UK's new PM Starmer speaks to world leaders, names top team
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Spain and France to face off in Euros last four, Turkey lament 'unfair' Demiral ban
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Israel says negotiators to hold fresh Gaza truce talks next week
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France beat Portugal on penalties to reach Euro 2024 semi-finals
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Endrick to start for Brazil in Uruguay Copa clash: Dorival
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Heartbreak for Germany fans after dramatic Euros exit
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Beryl heads for Texas after causing damage, no deaths in Mexico
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Nagelsmann laments late penalty decision as hosts Germany exit Euros
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Biden declares he's all in ahead of high-risk TV interview
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Spain team 'is a winning horse', says De la Fuente
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Bows at the ready, Chad villagers battle kidnappings
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Alcaraz mimics Bellingham goal celebration after Wimbledon win
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Olmo hopes Pedri can make speedy return for Euros semi-finalists Spain
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Retiring Kroos hopeful despite Germany's 'bitter' Euros exit
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Southgate turns on English 'entitlement' over claims of easy Euros draw
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Merino extra-time goal sends Spain past Germany to Euro semis
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Koeman demands Dutch silence fervent Turkish fans at Euros
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Brad Pitt at Silverstone for filming of F1 movie
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Raducanu storms into Wimbledon last 16
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California fires spread in July 4 weekend heatwave
Powerful solar storm pummels Earth, threatening disruption
A huge solar storm begun pummeling Earth on Friday, bringing possible disruptions to satellites and power grids -- and stunning auroras -- as it intensifies.
The first of several coronal mass ejections (CMEs) -- expulsions of plasma and magnetic fields from the Sun -- arrived in the early afternoon, US eastern time, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said.
Severe geomagnetic storm conditions are expected to persist over the weekend, and come as the Sun approaches the peak of an 11-year cycle that brings heightened activity.
"We have notified all of our infrastructure operators that we coordinate with, such as satellite operators, communication folks... and of course, the power grid here in North America," space weather forecaster Shawn Dahl told reporters.
The US Federal Aviation administration, however, said Friday in a social media post that "we do not anticipate any significant impacts to the national airspace system due to the potential geomagnetic storm."
Unlike solar flares, which travel at the speed of light and reach Earth in around eight minutes, CMEs travel at a more sedate pace, with officials putting the current average at 800 kilometers (500 miles) per second.
There were at one point up to seven CMEs in transit, emanating from a sunspot cluster that is 16 times wider than our planet, but it's not clear how they have merged together along the way.
- 'Go outside tonight and look' -
Mathew Owens, a professor of space physics at the University of Reading, told AFP the effects would be largely felt over the planet's northern and southern latitudes. How far they would extend would depend on the storm's final strength.
"Northern Canada, Scotland, those kinds of places are going to get some good auroras -- I think we can confidently say that, but it may build," he said, with the situation mirrored in the southern hemisphere.
"Go outside tonight and look would be my advice because if you see the aurora, it's quite a spectacular thing," he added. If people have eclipse glasses, they can also look for the sunspot cluster during the day.
In the United States, this could be as far south as Northern California and Alabama, officials said.
NOAA's Brent Gordon encouraged the public to try to capture the night sky with phone cameras even if they can't see auroras with their naked eyes.
"Just go out your back door and take a picture with the newer cell phones and you'd be amazed at what you see in that picture versus what you see with your eyes."
- Spacecraft and pigeons -
Fluctuating magnetic fields associated with geomagnetic storms induce currents in long wires, including power lines, which can potentially lead to blackouts. Long pipelines can also become electrified, leading to engineering problems.
Spacecraft are also at risk from high doses of radiation, though the atmosphere prevents this from reaching Earth.
NASA has a dedicated team looking into astronaut safety, and can ask astronauts on the International Space Station to move to places within the outpost that are better shielded.
Pigeons and other species that have internal biological compasses could also be affected. Pigeon handlers have noted a reduction in birds coming home during geomagnetic storms, according to NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
In October 2003, geomagnetic storms rated as "extreme" led to blackouts in Sweden and damaged power transformers in South Africa. Impacts are also possible on high-frequency radio communication, GPS and satellites.
Officials said people should have the normal backup plans in place for power outages, such as having flashlights, batteries and radios at hand.
The most powerful geomagnetic storm in recorded history, known as the Carrington Event, occurred in September 1859, named after British astronomer Richard Carrington.
Excess currents on telegraph lines at that time caused electrical shocks to technicians and even set some telegraph equipment ablaze.
A.Motta--PC