Here's a little more about solar flares:

* They are powerful bursts of energy that release huge amounts of radiation.

* They occur when magnetic energy builds up in the Sun's atmosphere (corona) and is suddenly released.

* They can last from minutes to hours.

* They can cause disruptions to radio communications and GPS signals.

* They can also produce beautiful auroras (northern and southern lights).

While solar flares are impressive, they aren't the only type of solar storm. Coronal mass ejections (CMEs) are another type of solar storm, and they can be even more powerful and disruptive.