Re:Solar cycle is more powerful and surprising than predicted
by e40 on Thursday August 17, 2023 @01:36PM
(#37165329)
To me, this is the most realistic comment in this entire thread. I've thought a lot about this and it's what I've settled on, for the most part.
That we aren't trying to prevent this, in a substantial way, is shocking to me.
Re:Solar cycle is more powerful and surprising than predicted
by gremlinsinc on Thursday August 17, 2023 @08:57PM
(#37170298)
yeah, I've given a lot of thought to all the scenarios that could happen. It's amazing how dependent we all are on a system of jugglers basically a few balls fall and it triggers a runaway domino effect.
Re:Solar cycle is more powerful and surprising than predicted
by e40 on Friday August 18, 2023 @02:54PM
(#37180404)
Btw, I really enjoyed Lucifer's Hammer (1977, Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle) as it explored the issues we are discussing. The source of that story was a meteor and not a solar flare, but the effect is the same.
What do you think happens when there's no electric freezers for food storage, shipment, etc. No credit or debit cards. all digital money will basically be erased or locked on a hard drive that can't be accessed until the grid goes back up.
All factories cease production, I don't think diabetics stand a chance, and many others with debilitating diseases.
Hospitals will be working without electricity, without patient records, without power saws to saw through bone more efficiently, without lights except candles, without most medicines, and without a supply chain.
Essentially what a doctor can fit in a bag and carry and has zero electric components will still be useable. So scalpels, and other surgical tools, tongue depressor, blood pressure cuff, stethoscope, etc. People who wear glasses better hope they don't need a new prescription or break their glasses as there will be no solution.
To me the scariest fact is that every frozen and refrigerated food item in the world will spoil within 3 days. The only food remaining will be things like cereal, wheat, rice, canned goods etc, of course competition to get the last of the food will make the fight over toilet paper seem like the great emu was vs WW2.
Military arsenals requiring electronic targeting may go down too, all stocks basically go to zero, instability in markets and govts will be global.
Charismatic leaders might become war lords and take over large territories that were big, strong nations before the event.
If you had no warning of the event, you wouldn't even know for a week or two what happened. you can't look it up on the Internet. there's no tv or radio for you to get updates on the situation or warnings/alarms.
I think I heard estimates that said about 2.4 billion out of 8b, will be all that remain after 3 years. In other words 2/3rds of mankind will be gone.
In the middle ages people relied on goods from nearby farmers markets or grew it themselves. There wasn't a global supply chain, so life would carry on as normal. We'd literally be sent back to the middle ages..
etc etc etc...