For the Record': How the Sun Could Knock Out Electrical Grids Worldwide

A growing number of Americans understand what an Electromagnetic Pulse is and how it could destroy the nation’s entire electrical grid. While most reports on the threat of an EMP center on a nuclear weapon, there is a natural phenomenon that could have the same devastating impact — but on a global scale.

A Coronal Mass Ejection, which is triggered by solar storms, creates massive blasts that “rearrange” the magnetic field. The result of such an event could trigger an EMP-type release around the world. In turn, that could result in the largest global loss of human life ever.

A 2014 paper in Space Weather calculated that there is 12 percent chance that the earth will get hit by a major CME in any decade. The last massive CME to strike earth was the “Carrington Event” in 1859, although there was a near-miss in 2012.

A 2013 study by insurance giant Lloyd’s of London said that a Carrington-level event was “almost inevitable” in the future.

For the Record investigates the threat to the electrical grid posed by EMP in its season premiere episode “Lights Out.” It airs Wednesday, Feb. 17, at 9:00 p.m. ET on TheBlaze TV.