Sunspots Reach 1000-Year Peak

rlp writes "Researchers at the Institute for Astronomy in Zurich are reporting that solar sunspot activity is at a 1000-year peak. Records of sunspots have been kept since 1610. The period between 1645 and 1715 (known as the Maunder Minimum) was a period of very few sunspots. Researchers extended the record by measuring isotopes of beryllium (created by cosmic rays) in Greenland ice cores. Based on both observations and ice core records, we are now at a sunspot peak exceeding solar activity for any time in the past thousand years."

What do you know

[TodMinuit]

So are temperatures. *ducks from thrown chair*

What happened 1000 years ago?

[biocute]

So what happened around 1000 A.D.? How did people then manage a similar peak?

Treatment for Sun damage

[techmuse]

Sounds like the sun needs a good dermatologist!

Thank goodness!

[DoofusOfDeath]

If they're at their peak, that means they'll soon decline, and then global warming will be reversed! :)

(I think I'm kidding.)

Re:What do you know

[biocute]

*ducks from thrown chair*

No need, this is Sun, not Microsoft.

Re:What happened 1000 years ago?

[Gbo2k7]

They all went out and bought electric cars.

Re:That doesn't debunk global warming

[DoofusOfDeath]

before the trolls come in - know that this doesn't debunk global warming. What most of the 'global warming' controversy is centers on "are humans contributing?"

the answer is absolutely undeniably: Yes

Oh please... you expect us to believe that humans cause sunspots???

Timing

[iMySti]

Why does this have to happen now that we finally have technology that a solar storm can mess up?

Re:That doesn't debunk global warming

[LordKazan]

You need to learn two things
1) Reading Comprehension
2) Manners

Re:What do you know - spotty...

[flyingfsck]

The Sun God is in puberty and eat too many chocolate bunnies and eggs at Easter?

Re:1000 years ago

[the-amazing-blob]

But your favorite phrases would still be "I'm not dead yet!" and "I don't want to go on the cart!"

Re:What do you know

[JobyKSU]

Oooh... mod down -5 for calling Fox a "news" channel, even in jest! I've hear less slanted coverage from the White House!

Re:Scary?

[Anonymous Coward]

Yes, it should have been modded Offtarget !

With all due respect, Mr. Smarty Pants...

[ChePibe]

This is Slashdot.

People don't read links or articles here.

You must be too good for this here place. Why don't you run down to some fancy website [digg.com] where you'd feel more welcome.

Damn kids. Come here and start reading links and articles. No respect for tradition. No honor. All he had to do was post a pithy comment and get his +5 insightful, but noooo... he had to read the article.

Why can't you just be like the rest of us, and argue past each other without doing any research while stubbornly holding your own ground, peppering your posts with links you know the other side won't read? Geez...

Re:What do you know

[nmb3000]

Well what do you think caused the sun spots to peak?

Increased greenhouse gasses caused by human use of fossil fuels. Duh!

Why don't you neo-cons get with it and watch Al Gore's movie already. He proved this very thing.

Re:What do you know

[ArcherB]

Oooh... mod down -5 for calling Fox a "news" channel, even in jest! I've hear less slanted coverage from the White House!

Yes! We must mod down, silence and ridicule all those that disagree with us! Brownshirts of the world, UNITE!!!

Re:Scary?

[Anonymous Coward]

Unfortunately no soldier, you really did kill those children.

monitored on the Sun since 1610

[bl8n8r]

"Sunspots have been monitored on the Sun since 1610, shortly after the invention of the telescope."

Which were soon follwed by cries of "GAAAHHH!!! I'm blind!!!"

Re:What do you know

[wealthychef]

Do partisan politics grant psychic abilities?

I knew you were going to ask that, you Communist!