The letter X has a lot of interpretations; it could indicate something strong, menacing, enigmatic, or any combination of these. Examples of these include X-rays, X Men, the X Files, X planes, and, in the movies, at least a few triple-X spies..
The Sun also participates in the show with its X-class solar flares, which are strong, frightening, and rather enigmatic explosions.
.Massive explosions known as solar flares are produced when the magnetic field lines in the Sun tangle, break, and then re-form. These explosions shoot radiation and particle bursts into the solar system, which can have devastating effects on Earth.
- The five letters that scientists use to represent the power of a solar flare are A, B, C, M, and X, arranged from weakest to greatest.
- The first three are quite light; Class M flares can affect Earth to some extent, but the really dangerous flares are the X-class, the greatest of which can produce energy equivalent to a billion hydrogen bombs.
- Massive explosions of charged particles frequently accompany them. They have the power to destroy power grids, fry orbiting satellites, interfere with radio transmissions, force airlines to reroute flights away from the north pole to avoid dangerous radiation levels, and create displays of the northern lights in areas that rarely see them.
- There will be many X-flares in the future as the Sun becomes more active in the lead-up to its magnetic cycle peak in a few years.