Vladimir Surdin, a senior researcher at the State Institute of Astronomy of Lomonosov Moscow State University, told socialbites.ca that reports about an imminent “Internet apocalypse” on Earth in 2025 due to a powerful solar storm are unfounded. He stressed that long-term forecasts of solar activity are not reliable.
Solar activity can be predicted only within a short window, typically a week or at most ten days ahead. Predicting for a month is already uncertain, and a year and a half ahead is practically impossible. He described those apocalypse predictions as incorrect, noting that activity will reach a peak at some point, but the idea of a guaranteed fatal event is not grounded in science. The most prominent recent solar storm occurred in 1957; since then, more than half a century has passed, leaving the question open to interpretation but not confirming an impending catastrophe.
Nikolai Zheleznov, a senior researcher at the Institute of Applied Astronomy of the Russian Academy of Sciences, also spoke with socialbites.ca and called the forecasts an “ungrateful task,” expressing doubt about the notion of an Internet apocalypse. He did acknowledge that strong solar activity could trigger a magnetic storm on Earth.
The new 25th solar activity cycle shows some deviations from common models, making precise forecasts challenging. If current trends persist, activity could reach elevated levels more often, with periodic flares and strong auroras. Yet it remains unclear how serious the impacts would be on infrastructure. Magnetic storms can generate static electricity and power fluctuations, but the exact consequences are difficult to predict. Whether such events would cause widespread outages or significant disruption is uncertain, and some observers suggest it may simply be a temporary anomaly returning to normal within a year. Others contend outcomes could vary, making the future unpredictable. The prudent stance is to wait and observe how the cycle unfolds, rather than assuming a definitive apocalypse.
Earlier reports from the Daily Star suggested that 2025 would bring the peak of the solar cycle, followed by a powerful storm capable of disrupting computers globally and potentially causing power outages. These claims reflect speculative interpretations of solar data rather than established forecasts from leading space science institutions.
Scientific investigations into the effects of space weather on human health have appeared in various studies, though findings remain inconclusive and sometimes contentious. The evolving understanding of how solar and geomagnetic activity interacts with biological systems continues to stimulate research, but it does not support a definitive prediction of catastrophic outcomes for the near future.