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Scientists are preparing for a 2013 peak in solar activity and its possible effects on Earth -- from power outages to interruptions in GPS and cell service. Solar storms occur when sunspots on our star erupt and spew out flumes of charge particles that can damage power systems. The sun's activity typically follows an 11-year cycle, and it looks to be coming out of a slump and gearing up for an active period. People of the 21st century rely on high-tech systems for the basics of daily life. But smart power grids, GPS navigation, air travel, financial services and emergency radio communications can all be knocked out by intense solar activity.
Via: Yahoo