From: NASA

On May 12, 2013, the sun emitted a significant solar flare, peaking at 10 p.m. EDT. This flare is classified as an X1.7, making it the first X-class flare of 2013. The flare was also associated with another solar phenomenon, called a coronal mass ejection (CME) that can send solar material out into space. This CME was not Earth-directed.

Solar flares are powerful bursts of radiation. Harmful radiation from a flare cannot pass through Earth’s atmosphere to physically affect humans on the ground, however — when intense enough — they can disturb the atmosphere in the layer where GPS and communications signals travel. This disrupts the radio signals for as long as the flare is ongoing – the radio blackout associated with this flare has since subsided. Read more »

From: KRNV Reno

RENO, Nev. (KRNV & MyNews4.com) — Community Wildfire Protection Plans and Fire-Adapted Communities are the focus of two upcoming live webinars, May 7 and May 14 being presented by University of Nevada Cooperative Extension.

The first one-hour, free webinar will be offered at 10 a.m., May 7, in conjunction with Nevada Wildfire Awareness Week that begins May 4.
Participants will learn about the purpose and value of Community Wildfire Protection Plans and explore a digital Read more »

Exclusive: Creek Stewart lists 6 survival uses for surprising, everyday item

By: CREEK STEWART

I’ve often said that a person’s most important survival skill is the ability to improvise. The skill of “using what you have to get what you need” in a life-threatening survival scenario often involves looking at everyday items through survival-tinted glasses. Many everyday items have surprising survival applications if you’re willing think outside of the box and get creative. Sudden and unexpected survival scenarios all have one thing in common – you’ll never have exactly what you need when you need it.

In my courses at Willow Haven I’ll often challenge students to list as many survival uses they can think of for a variety of random, everyday items that one might find in their purse, car or pockets. It’s a good exercise and always produces surprising results. Below is a great example. Read more »