"Solar Flare Sparks Radio Blackouts in Australia and Southeast Asia"

A massive solar flare erupted from a sunspot, causing radio blackouts in Australia and Southeast Asia as the radiation ionized the upper atmosphere, disrupting shortwave radio communications. The flare also produced coronal mass ejections (CME), which can lead to geomagnetic storms and disruptions to Earth's technology and satellites. The event, which began on February 5th, highlights the potential impact of space weather on modern conveniences and communication systems.