Webmaster's Blog

This article at USAToday.com came to my attention the other day, and I must say, those are some good graphics. I'm not saying that because I think the graphic artist did a good job in an artistic way, I'm saying that because those graphics really help get the point across. Sometimes, I think we get distracted by the intense scientific language that comes along with the physics of electromagnetic pulse.

Here are the first three paragraphs:

"The sky erupts. Cities darken, food spoils and homes fall silent. Civilization collapses.
End-of-the-world novel? A video game? Or could such a scenario loom in America's future?

There is talk of catastrophe ahead, depending on whom you believe, because of the threat of an electromagnetic pulse triggered by either a supersized solar storm or terrorist A-bomb, both capable of disabling the electric grid that powers modern life.

Electromagnetic pulses (EMP) are oversized outbursts of atmospheric electricity. Whether powered by geomagnetic storms or by nuclear blasts, their resultant intense magnetic fields can induce ground currents strong enough to burn out power lines and electrical equipment across state lines."

Go ahead to USAToday.com and click through the graphics--it'll take a few minutes, but it's worth it--especially the graphic about half-way down the article that shows the earth's magnetic fields. Make sure you click through all four of the graphics, because they each give a bit more info that helps the whole concept make sense.

To read the whole article, go to USAToday.com.