Massive filament from Sun heading for Earth

Plus: What would actually happen if you threw a penny off the Empire State building? Oct 11, 2022 [Blueprint]( Forget flying too close to the Sun; it’s flying too close to us! During one of the most intense weeks of activity like this in recent memory, the Sun has let out a [120,000-mile-long (200,000 km) fiery filament](. And it was reported to be heading straight toward us. Experts expected it to reach Earth by the end of the week, so… brace, brace, brace. Ok, ok, you don’t need to brace. It’s actually only expected to cause a G1-class geomagnetic storm. These are generally relatively mild and might have a minor impact on power grids and communication satellites. But before you back up your files and start investing in paper maps, [check out this video]( of what would actually happen if you threw a penny off the Empire State building. The answer might surprise you. Good morning. I’m Alice, an Editor at IE. This is The Blueprint. Let’s dive in. Last Sunday, Blueprint subscribers had an exclusive insight from scientists around the globe about whether coffee has many more (some fairly life-changing) health benefits than we realize. Don't miss out — [subscribe to IE+ today]( to receive exclusive interviews, features, and much more. [Play]VIDEO OF THE DAY [What would actually happen if you threw a penny off the Empire State building?]( [Penny off the Empire State building.]( A deadly test or a bit of a myth-buster? [Must Read]MUST READ [A 120,000-mile-long filament from the Sun headed toward Earth.]( [A 120,000-mile-long filament from the Sun headed toward Earth.]( In the latest of an ever-lengthening line of solar flare excitements, there’s a 120,000-mile-long filament from the Sun that has been reported as being on its way to us. Solar activity has been ramping up in the past few months as the Sun approaches the peak of its solar cycle. This happens every 11 years or so when the poles of the Sun switch their positions. This sends it into a frenzy of activity, which is generally marked by the appearance of sunspots and darker areas on the solar surface. Scientists aren't sure where exactly the coronal mass injection (CME) is heading, but they know it is headed toward us and could graze our planet's magnetosphere this week. → Scientists keenly study the sunspots, as they are areas of intense magnetic activity. At times, they give off fierce radiation, called solar flares, and on relatively rare occasions, they also emit particulate matter, called CMEs. [READ MORE [Arrow]]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Linkedin]( [INNOVATION]INNOVATION [NASA space tech could cut EV charging times to less than 5 minutes.]( An experimental NASA technology designed to cool equipment in space could [drastically reduce electric vehicle (EV) charging times]( to five minutes or less. [READ MORE [Arrow]]( And Other Stories in Innovation - World’s first AI-backed swing [will provide top security]( to a retreat in the Himalayas. - Engineers created a [safe micro-nuclear reactor]( that fits in the back of a truck. - This flood protection barrier [reaches new heights](. [premium] [SCIENCE]SCIENCE [This app allows iPhone users to record their heartbeats as a makeshift stethoscope.]( An app developed by researchers allows users to [record their heartbeats]( using nothing more than their iPhones. The simple technology that turns smartphones into stethoscopes is aimed at collecting heartbeat samples. [READ MORE [Arrow]]( And Other Stories in Science - A new method helped find [million-year-old marine DNA]( in Antarctica — here’s what’s next. - Ancient melting ice sheets [carved tunnel valleys]( on the sea floor, says study. - Researchers are figuring out [how we make memories]( — and how to study better. [premium] [MAIL & MUSINGS]MAIL & MUSINGS A 120,000-mile-long filament from the Sun headed toward Earth. Do you think these filaments might one day become a genuine threat to us? [Yes, but not for a long time]( [Yes, and we should be concerned]( [No, don’t be ridiculous]( [It’s hard to say either way]( YESTERDAY'S RESULTS Yesterday, we asked you if you think there’s a genuine risk that a robot maker could create a robot army, and a huge 71 percent of you said yes, it's totally possible, which is exactly why we need the pledge. Scary. 71% Yes, which is why we need the pledge 17% It’s possible but highly unlikely 10% No, not without anyone noticing 2% No, this isn’t a sci-fi movie [QUOTE OF THE DAY]QUOTE OF THE DAY “Ignorance is an evil weed, which dictators may cultivate among their dupes, but which no democracy can afford among its citizens.” William Henry Beveridge 1879–1963 British economist: Full Employment in a Free Society (1944) pt. 7. [THINGS WE LOVE]THINGS WE LOVE [image]( [Nostalgia Cooking Station]( [image]( [Samcom Long Range Walkie Talkies]( [image]( [Quattropod Wireless Presentation System]( [image]( [Mustart Level 2 Charger]( [AND ANOTHER THING]AND ANOTHER THING - NASA will soon test a [massive inflatable heat shield]( in low Earth orbit. - Why traumatic brain injuries [raise the risk of a second]( worse hit. (Science News) - False alarm: iPhone 14 [calls law enforcement on rollercoasters]( through its Crash Detection feature. - Carlo Rovelli on the bizarre world of [relational quantum mechanics](. (New Scientist) - A 23-year-old product designer invents a [new kind of table]( that generates electricity. [premium] - What does [charred ancient poop]( reveal about early animal-raising? (SN Explores) - The prototype of the [most eco-friendly car]( has been revealed. [Subscribe to IE+ today.]( Prepared by Alice Cooke Enjoy Reading? Forward this email to a friend. Was this email forwarded to you? [Join Free!]( [About Us]( [Advertise]( [Contact Us]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Youtube]( [Linkedin]( [Instagram]( You are receiving this email because you have subscribed to our newsletter. Manage you e-mail preferences or unsubscribe [here](. © Copyright 2022 | The Blueprint is by Interesting Engineering, Inc. 201 Spear Street, Suite 1100 San Francisco, CA 94105 | All Rights Reserved [Interesting Engineering]