SUN LIKELY TO CAUSE DISRUPTIONS

There were even more echoes of "The sky is falling! The sky is falling!" variety recently when it was widely reported that sun storms next year are likely to cause havoc for cellular phones and satellite navigation systems.

Given the level of anxiety that already has been created over the so-called Y2K problem -- real or imagined, the thought of sun-related problems with modern technology could only heighten the tension. Just imagine a huge solar flare as the calendar flips over to Jan. 1, 2000. Wouldn't it be easy for most folks to blame any resulting problems on that Y2K bug?

According to scientists, the sun goes through 11-year cycles that include periods of massive bursts of magnetic energy and radiation that reach Earth. These flares have always occurred, but before the advent of vulnerable technology, they were little noticed.

Some end-of-the-world watchers are starting to see signs and portents of things to come. Who knows? They may be right.