According to a study, the Earth is close to a new solar cataclysm – a superflare that could destroy satellites, cut off power to cities and disrupt communications around the world. The last such outbreak, the Carrington event in 1859, knocked out telegraph networks. Today, such a disaster would be fatal to high-tech infrastructure.

Meanwhile, astronomers are preparing ESA’s Vigil satellite, which will begin monitoring solar activity to minimize risks.