Scientists Weigh Unusual Solution to Shield Earth From Powerful Solar Storms

For decades, the main strategy against severe solar storms has been prediction: watch the Sun, forecast the incoming disturbance, and prepare satellites, power grids, and communication systems for impact. Now, scientists are considering something far more active — temporarily strengthening Earth’s magnetic shield before the storm arrives.

The proposal, called StormWall, was led by Brian Walsh of Boston University and detailed in the journal Space Weather. According to Space.com, the idea involves six spacecraft in geosynchronous orbit releasing materials such as barium, lithium, sodium, or calcium into Earth’s magnetic environment, where sunlight would turn them into plasma that could help reduce storm intensity.