Curiosity Season 2 Episode 12

Sun Storm

You probably already know that the sun is super old (4 billion years) and incredibly hot (10,000 degrees Fahrenheit). And you might even know that, since it's a giant ball of plasma, it's packed with energy (it will likely blaze for another 6 billion years). It's a friendly neighbor, too -- providing heat and light that make life here on Earth possible. But all isn't entirely rosy. Did you know our sun has a dark side? It's capable of massive destruction! On its surface, a massive storm is brewing -- one so large that it could knock out the power grid, crippling everything from communications systems to banking systems to our water supply. But how prepared are we for a massive solar storm? In this episode, Curiosity goes on a virtual expedition through the heart of the sun to see how these super solar storms form and more.