Later-stage solar flares could be more disruptive to communication systems than previously thought, according to new research.

While it’s well known the first wave of a solar flare – a sudden burst of energy from the Sun – can knock out GPS signals and trigger global radio blackouts, the secondary emission is less-studied.

A new study now suggests this later phase, known as EUV (extreme ultraviolent), could be just as threatening to the Earth’s satellites, with more energy over a longer period of time.

This means it could have a prolonged impact on a part of the upper atmosphere called the ionosphere, which grows and shrinks depending on the energy it absorbs from the Sun.

Significant changes to the ionosphere – which satellites need to send signals around the planet – can disrupt communication completely.

Corresponding author Dr Susanna Bekker, from the School of Mathematics and Physics at Queen’s University Belfast, said studying the impact of solar flares on the ionosphere is a “significant focus”.

“Studies have indicated that the illuminated part of the Earth’s ionosphere is extremely sensitive to variations in solar radiation fluxes, which can cause failures in technology that people rely on daily,” she said.

“During more powerful events, the effect on the ionosphere is much higher, therefore the late phase can also have a negative impact on the accuracy of navigation systems and the stability of radio communications.”

Recent findings have shown a large proportion of solar flares have an EUV late phase, whose influence is not yet as clear.

Solar flares are classed in relation to how powerful they are and their potential impact on Earth – with an X flare considered the most aggressive.

Image:
Extreme ultraviolet light streaming out of an X-class solar flare. Pic: NASA via PA

Researchers looked at data from previous X-class flares to analyse how the ionosphere responded to an EUV late-phase flare.

The findings are published in the The Astrophysical Journal.

In February, Sony confirmed plans to add PC support to its PlayStation VR2 headset and now, we have an idea of what that will look like.

As spotted by XR-focused YouTuber Brad Lynch, a March Korean filing by Sony points to an adapter that will allow the PS VR2, which is currently only compatible with a PS5 console, to run on a PC.

When Sony originally confirmed PC support, it said it was targeting a launch sometime in 2024. Therefore, a months-old filing would suggest that Sony is on track to meet that goal. It should be noted, however, that the filing doesn’t provide any details on how the adapter will connect to PC or even how much it will cost.

Still, Sony is no doubt hoping that the PC support will help the PS VR2. The device was released last year to overall solid reviews, although it was criticized for its steep $750 price tag and lack of launch games. The headset has also reportedly missed Sony’s sales targets by hundreds of thousands of units. It remains to be seen what benefit, if any, the PC support will bring.

In the meantime, Sony is running its latest annual big Days of Play promotion, offering $120 discounts on the PS VR2 as well as savings on PS5 consoles, games and more.

Distributed also on: Korea’s National Radio Research Agency Via: Brad Lynch

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The end for Google Pay is near, for those who lost track of time and/or whatever the hell Google is doing with its payment apps. The Google Pay (or is it GPay?) app is going away on June 4 and there is one thing you need to do if you happen to have a substantial balance in there.

Google has informed customers today that once June 4 rolls around and the Google Pay app is put to bed, the situation involving withdrawals will change. First, you’ll have to withdraw funds from the Google Pay website (here), but you should also be aware that there are limits to how much you can take per day and over 7 days.

Here’s how Google explains the withdrawal process next month:

Starting June 4, 2024, withdrawals you make may not exceed two hundred dollars ($200) in the aggregate over seven (7) consecutive days or in any single withdrawal transaction. Until June 4, you can withdraw your balance in the Google Pay app within the given Google Pay limits.

So there will be $200 limits on the daily and over a 7-day period. Currently, Google allows for daily $5,000 withdrawals and a rolling $20,000 7-day limit if you are verified on the platform and use the app for those. It’s the website that has the $200 limits, hence the reason the limits are changing come June 4.

If you’ve been keeping a large sum of cash in your Google Pay account, it might take a while to get all of it out and into your other accounts come June 4. That’s all I’m saying here.

For more on Google Pay limits and withdrawals, checkout this Google Pay support page.

TCL announced the 50 LE this week, a device designed specifically for Verizon’s prepaid network. Available for just $99 via Verizon Prepaid starting tomorrow, you’ll also be able to find it at both Visible (June 27) and Walmart (June 14).

The device features a 6.56-inch HD+ display with 90Hz refresh rate, 13-megapixel main camera accompanied by 2MP depth camera, 4,000mAh battery, fingerprint reader, face unlock, MediaTek quad-core processor, 4GB RAM + 64GB storage (microSD supports up to 256GB), 3.5mm headphone jack, and Android 14. The only desired spec we’re not seeing is any sort of water resistance.

For $99, you’re getting a couple of features that OG Android users still love: microSD support and a headphone jack. That’s pretty sweet. Times are certainly changing, with prepaid phones now coming with incredible value. Let’s hope the software support doesn’t lack too much from TCL.

You can find the TCL 50 LE at Verizon Prepaid starting tomorrow.