Are you ready when the lights go out? Rare solar storm could fry power grids, warns British physicist

Published

8 months ago

October 13, 2023

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Mathew Owens, a British physicist and professor of space physics at the University of Reading,has warned that aonce-in-century solar storm could fry power grids and knock out satellites.

The sun’s activity is currently growing and scientists are particularly concerned about the ongoing solar cycle. It is already more active than the previous cycle, which means the sun could become more active than it has been in the past two decades.

The current solar cycle is already wreaking havoc, with powerful solar flares causing radio blackouts that disrupt long-haul flights. Elon Musk’s SpaceX also lost 40 Starlink satellites as a solar storm caused the atmosphere to expand, increasing the drag for the satellites and causing them to burn up. (Related: Lost in space: Solar storm destroys 38 Starlink satellites, costing Elon Musk’s company tens of millions in losses.)

“We’ve gotten several solar storm warnings over the past decade. With constant news that the power grid is overwhelmed, at some point, we could actually see it go down,” saidDr. Daniel Verscharen, an associate professor of Space and Climate Physics at theUniversity College London.

“The much stronger events don’t happen every cycle.But during a maximum of a strong cycle like the one that is coming, it’s more likely to get some of those events that cause power outages here on Earth.” Things to do before the next blackout

Here are some steps to take to prepare for power grid disruption: Build your survival stockpile

Grow your own food and medicine by creating a sustainable survival garden.

Store the following: Water. You can store emergency water in your vehicle in soft-sided insulated containers; coolers or water jugs; 55-gallon drums or large PVC pipes capped at both ends that you can store underground; or large steel tanks that absorb heat from the sun above ground. (Related: Long-term water storage: Tips for stockpiling water in 55-gallon drums in your garage.) Healthy shelf-stable foods that you and your family eat in daily life (and will like to eat in times of crisis situations), including whole grains; canned/preserved fruits, vegetables, meat, fish and poultry; nuts and seeds; and beans and legumes. (Related: 10 hardy vegetables you can stockpile for at least a year, even without refrigeration.) Storable staple foods, including salt, honey, apple cider vinegar, baking soda, coconut oil, herbs and spices. Special “survival food” that you don’t tear open until an emergency, such as MRE (meals, ready-to-eat) rations. First aid medical supplies, including prescription medicines required by members of your family, over-the-counter must-have medications, sanitizers, antibacterial substances and medical supplies. Have battery backups for medical equipment if someone in your family relies on a medical device. Research what battery backups are available. Cash. You would be wise to have an emergency fund at your home at least $1,000 in a variety of $20, $10, $5 and $1 bills would be smart. Barter items. Keep in mind that cash could potentially become useless too and bartering could take the place of cash in a long enough blackout. For this reason, consider building up a stash of barter items that you can exchange for your specific needs. Items and tools that do not run on electricity, such as kitchen tools (manual can openers, hand-cranked grain grinder), general handyman tools (hand drills, hand saws) and gardening tools. Create “lights-out” boxes or power outage kits

These are portable boxes or containers, plastic totes and/or large duffel bags the first things you look for in the event of a blackout or a power outage.

Some items to place in your “lights-out” boxes or power outage kits are flashlights, headlamps and/or glow sticks for each member of the family, rechargeable batteries, battery testers, multiple-source chargers, first-aid kits, candles, matches, lighters and other fire-starters, extension cords, etc.

Make sure everyone in the family knows the location of the box so that it is easy to retrieve during a blackout. Purchase a hand-cranked weather/emergency radio

Hand crank radios are considered an emergency kit essential by emergency authorities. The best emergency crank radios provide NOAA weather alerts, sustainable power and light. In an age where people are virtually helpless without cell phones and the internet, these radios can be a beacon of hope when you need them most.

Invest in a portable generator

A portable generator may be a wise investment, especially if you live in an area that is increasingly affected by severe weather-related events. Depending on the size and type you get, you may be able to keep your lights on and your appliances running for several hours to several days.

Most models are gasoline-powered and need to operate well away from your home due to dangerous fumes. Some options are battery-operated. Plan “unplugged” activities

Reliance on electronics for entertainment can make boredom a big problem for all ages during power outages. “Unplugged” activities include playing card games and board games; solving jigsaw and word puzzles; and reading books. Keep your car’s tank at least half full

Keep in mind that gas stations need electricity to power their pumps. Purchase power inverters for your vehicle

Power inverters are devices that convert the direct current (DC) from your car or truck into alternating current (AC) that can power some of your devices and appliances. Develop a survival mindset

Focuson ensuring that you and your loved ones will be safe when the grid goes down. Be prepared to endure hardships andbe self-reliant. (Related: Ways to develop mental toughness and a survivor mindset when SHTF.)

Visit Preparedness.news for more stories like this.

Watch this video that talks about the rare solar storm that can destroy power grids.

This video is from the Daily Videos channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories:

Earth just dodged a potentially apocalyptic-level solar storm are we safe?

NASA can only give a warning 30 minutes before a killer solar storm, so PREPARE before SHTF.

GPS-dependent America is one solar storm away from collapse.

LIGHTS OUT: 20 Things you need to do during a power outage.

Sources include:

BusinessInsider.com

UrbanSurvivalSite.com 1

UrbanSurvivalSite.com 2

UrbanSurvivalSite.com 3

Amazon.com

Brighteon.com
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Politics

Reform candidate resigns over ‘unacceptable’ social media comments

Published

38 mins ago

June 17, 2024

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Reform candidate resigns over 'unacceptable' social media comments

The Reform Party has accepted the resignation of one of its election candidates after “unacceptable” historical social media comments came to light.

Grant StClair-Armstrong, who was standing in Saffron Walden, the Essex constituency where Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch was the most recent MP, tendered his resignation following reports in The Times that he had previously called on people to vote for the British National Party (BNP).

The newspaper reported that StClair-Armstrong posted a blog in 2010 in which he said: “I could weep now, every time I pick up a British newspaper and read the latest about the state of the UK. No doubt, Enoch Powell would be doing the same if he was alive. My solution … vote BNP!”

When The Times contacted Mr StClair-Armstrong about the comments, he said he had “no excuses”.

“I’ve got no excuses for that,” he said. “I think they’re a disgusting party. I don’t like the English Defence League. I don’t like them.”

Election latest: Pub registered as political party; Farage to launch Reform manifesto in Wales

The former candidate also said he would hand in his resignation, adding: “I don’t really see any alternative.”

A spokesperson for Reform told Sky News: “Mr StClair-Armstrong has tendered his resignation as a member of Reform UK due to the revelation of unacceptable historic social media comments and we have accepted his resignation.”

His resignation comes just a day before Nigel Farage is due to launch the party’s policies in South Wales on Monday afternoon.

Last week another Reform candidate apologised for an old internet post which said Britain should have “taken Hitler up on his offer of neutrality” instead of fighting the Nazis in the Second World War.

Ian Gribbin, who is standing in the East Sussex seat of Bexhill and Battle, told Sky News that he apologised and withdrew the comments “unreservedly”.

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He added that he was “upset” at how they had been “taken out of context”, saying his mother was the daughter of Russian Jewish people who fled persecution.

Rishi Sunak surprised his opponents when he called an election for 4 July, having previously hinted it would take place later in the autumn.

Responding to Mr Gribbin’s case at the time, Mr Farage said his party “ran out of time” to properly vet candidates.

The Reform leader claimed all parties “will suffer” from selection controversies because of the speed at which they had to pick people after the election was called.

The candidates standing in Saffron Walden are:

Conservatives – Kemi Badenoch
Independent – Erik Bonino
Green Party – Edward Gildea
Independent – Andrew David Green
Independent – Niko Omilana
Liberal Democrats – Smita Rajesh
Labour Party – Issy Waite
Reform – TBC

The candidates standing in Bexhill and Battle are:

Independent – Abul Azad
Labour – Christine Bayliss
Reform UK – Ian Gribbin
Independent Network – Nigel Jacklin
Liberal Democrat – Becky Jones
Green Party – Jonathan Kent
Party of Women – Julia Long
Conservative – Kieran Mullan
Independent – Jeff Newman
UK Independence Party – Colin Sullivan

UK

Euro 2024: A new-look England and another moment for Jude Bellingham to shine

Published

38 mins ago

June 17, 2024

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Euro 2024: A new-look England and another moment for Jude Bellingham to shine

No Euros game on record has had as few shots as England’s clash with Serbia.

But one of those 11 shots was enough for Jude Bellingham to seize on – heading in Bukayo Saka’s cross after 13 minutes. And it was just enough for England.

Whatever the second-half anxiety, a 1-0 win put England in control of their group thanks to Slovenia and Denmark drawing 1-1 in their opener.

A win and two-point cushion seems more important for Bellingham than any grumbling about the display.

“The first half shows why we can score goals against any team, and the second half shows why we can keep a clean sheet against any team,” Bellingham said.

“I think obviously commonly with the team, there’s a negative theme around all our games – sometimes rightly so.

“But I think in this case, you take the positives from the fact that, OK, maybe we had to hold on at times and suffer a little bit, but we kept a clean sheet.

“And when you keep a clean sheet, all you have to do is go one goal to win the game.”

It was anxious as Serbia regained the initiative in the second half and left England scrambling to protect the slender lead.

But Gareth Southgate has now won all four opening tournament matches as England manager while still waiting to end a tournament with a win – and a trophy.

This is a new-look England – with only half of the squad retained from the last tournament and the run to the World Cup quarterfinals in 2022.

Bellingham said: “This team is still so new, gelling together with every game.

“So, I think inside the changing room we will be happy with that of course.

“There will be negatives that we want to kind of rub out. But overall, I’m pleased with that performance.”

For Bellingham individually, this was another moment to shine being named player of the match after making an immediate impact on another major football stage.

More renditions of “Hey Jude” from the England fans in Gelsenkirchen, affection he tries to reciprocate by putting everything into energetic displays.

And the big reveal from Bellingham?

“I listen to the Beatles a lot,” he said. “My style of music is a bit old. So that’s right up my street.”

A wise head on a young body, it is easy to forget he is still only 20 – and already a Champions League and LaLiga winner with Real Madrid.

What will it take to give the England men their first trophy since the 1966 World Cup?

“I realise that in every game I feel like I can make an impact,” he said after collecting the player of the match award.

“I feel like I can decide games… and the truth is that I really enjoy playing football. So when I go out there, I play with a fearlessness because I love doing it so much. It’s a release for me.

“And it’s my favourite thing to do in the world. So when I play out, it’s not much of a job. It feels like a pleasure.”

UK

‘Brazen and fearless’: Handguns hidden in children’s underwear drawer among hundreds of firearms seized in London

Published

38 mins ago

June 17, 2024

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Three handguns hidden in a children’s underwear drawer were among 386 illegal firearms seized across London last year.

The Metropolitan Police says its blitz has led to a record drop in gun crime, which is at its lowest level in 15 years.

Firearms offences have been cut from 196 to 145 since March 2023, while shooting murders are down from 12 in 2021/22 to eight in 2023/24.

But despite the highest detection rate for 11 years – some 52% of criminals responsible for shootings were prosecuted last year – the force is still failing to solve almost half.

No arrests have been made after a drive-by shooting in Dalston, east London, last month left four people injured, including a nine-year-old girl, who remains in critical condition in hospital.

Commander Paul Brogden said the majority of shootings in the capital involve gangs but “wholly innocent victims” like her can “be caught in the crossfire”.

Tyrese Miller, 22, was shot dead in a case of mistaken identity on 4 April last year while he was on his way home after a night out with friends in Croydon, south London. Three men were later convicted in connection with the shooting.

“I worry that if this can happen to Tyrese, it can happen to anyone,” his mother, Jackie Taylor, said.

“No mother should have to bury their son like I have. What happened to Tyrese has changed all of us. None of us will ever really come to terms with what has happened.”

Police say that while “not as easy as ordering a pizza”, those involved in criminal networks are able to readily access firearms to control drugs markets and territory or enforce debts.

Some of the weapons are smuggled into the country by ferry or the mail system, but gang members are increasingly relying on converted blank-firing guns.

They are sold for legitimate pursuits such as drama and farming for as little as £100 but sold on for thousands of pounds once converted to fire real bullets.

A total of 386 illegal firearms were seized by the Met last year, with 46% of the pistols converted from blank-firing guns, while 3D-printed weapons are yet to make a real impact on London’s streets.

Police say the “brazen and fearless” possession of lethal weapons was demonstrated by Danny Butler, the 44-year-old armourer to a south London gang.

He was jailed for 18 years after officers found six guns, as well as a large amount of ammunition and Class A and B drugs, at the home he shared with his wife and three daughters – including an 18-month-old.

Three handguns, one of which was loaded, were among the weapons discovered in his children’s underwear drawer.

Another pistol and a pump action sawn-off shotgun were found in his wardrobe, while a second sawn-off shotgun was discovered in the coat cupboard.

The Met says victims of gang shootings are often reluctant to engage with police, looking to take their own retribution, and that “today’s victim could be tomorrow’s suspect”.

“Guns destroy lives and communities. The recent shootings in parts of London are a sad reminder that there is still work for us to do when it comes to cracking down on illegal firearms,” said Commander Brogden.

“Our progress should serve as a message to criminals and gang members using firearms – we will come after you, and we will bring you to justice.”