Storms on the Sun can cause all kinds of problems. They can knock out satellites and black out power grids. They can interfere with GPS and disrupt some radio broadcasts. They can even have an impact on human health.

Solar storms happen when the Sun’s magnetic field gets tangled up. Lines of magnetic force can snap, then reconnect. That produces outbursts of radiation and charged particles. When the particles hit Earth, they’re funneled toward the surface by our planet’s own magnetic field. And that’s what causes the problems.

Among the health concerns, particles and radiation can penetrate deeper into the atmosphere around the magnetic poles. That zaps anyone who’s flying at high altitudes in those regions. It’s not a fatal dose, but it’s enough to cause concerns. So airlines divert flights to avoid exposing passengers and crew.

There’s also evidence that these bouts of “space weather” can boost people’s blood pressure. In one study, researchers in China looked at half a million blood pressure readings taken over six years. And they found a definite jump around the time of solar storms – especially among women and those with hypertension. An American team found similar results among older men.

There’s no consensus about how space weather might cause blood pressure to spike. For now, all we know is that stormy skies on the Sun can cause lots of problems for the people on Earth.

Script by Damond Benningfield