Sun Down

Here's a bit of disturbing news. According to solar astronomers, the Sun's magnetic field activity is lower than it has been for decades. What does this mean? Maybe nothing. Or maybe a dip in the Sun's energy output -- leading to another Little Ice Age here on Earth.

Don't panic, and don't start hoarding guns and Polartec just yet. If the sunspot count starts to rise in the next few years, there may not be anything wrong after all. And if we are in for another cold spell -- keep in mind that the last "Little Ice Age" brought us the Renaissance, the Enlightenment, and the Industrial Revolution. Humans thrived during a major ice age with nothing but furs and fire to keep away the cold; a civilization with nuclear power and microwave popcorn should be able to get by.