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Mostly perceived as a life-giving force, the star in the center of our solar system has also a more sinister side to it. Approximately every 11 years our Sun enters a period of greater activity known as the solar maximum, during which increased magnetic activity can cause potentially dangerous solar flares and coronal mass ejections. These flares and CMEs are known to disrupt communications, damage satellites and even whole power grids. Learn more about the solar storms, their causes and effects in this book as the next solar maximum approaches in 2012.

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