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Scientists Solve 178-Year-Old Mystery of Train Delay Caused by Solar Storm
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What Happened?
An international team has clarified a historical account of a train delay in Exeter, England, caused by solar activity. The incident, originally dated to 1841, actually occurred in 1848, revealing early impacts of space weather on technology.
Key points
- The train delay incident was initially reported to have occurred on October 18, 1841.
- The actual date of the incident was determined to be October 18, 1848.
- The Exeter-to-Starcross railway line mentioned in the report opened in 1846, five years after the reported date.
- The Carrington Event in 1859 is a well-known example of solar storms affecting technology.
- The research involved collaboration among multiple universities and institutions.
Key insights
- The revised timeline emphasizes the importance of understanding historical interactions between technology and space weather.
- This incident illustrates how early electrical systems were vulnerable to solar disturbances.
- The findings may inform future assessments of risks posed by solar storms to modern infrastructure.
Why it matters
This discovery highlights the long-standing impact of space weather on technology, dating back to the early days of electrical communication.
Tags
Entities
Exeter· CityRMIT University· OrganizationLancaster University· OrganizationBritish Geological Survey· OrganizationNatural Resources Canada· OrganizationBaylor University· OrganizationRAL Space· Organization
Source
Science Daily
