A train was delayed by a solar storm. But something didn't add up

Scientists have cracked a 178-year-old mystery surrounding a train delayed by a solar storm, revealing that the famous incident happened in 1848 rather than 1841. The discovery rewrites the early history of space weather and highlights a threat that still endangers modern power grids, satellites, and communication systems. A train was delayed by a solar storm. But something didn’t add up.

Science News from research organizations A train was delayed by a solar storm. (Artist’s concept.) com A mysterious train delay nearly 180 years ago has led scientists to uncover a surprising mistake in the history of space weather. An international research team has solved a 178-year-old mystery involving one of the earliest documented cases of solar activity interfering with electrical technology.

The incident dates back to the 1840s, when electric telegraph networks were beginning to transform long-distance communication. As these early systems expanded, operators occasionally encountered strange electrical disturbances that could disrupt their equipment. Scientists now understand that some of these problems were caused by changes in Earth’s magnetic field triggered by activity on the Sun.

Researchers led by Lancaster University have revisited a historical account of a train delayed in Exeter, England, when solar activity interfered with the railway’s telegraph system.