Batten the hatches! A giant solar storm is headed our way. As I write this, it could arrive at any minute. One thing that might be noticeably affected is the Aurora Borealis, or the Northern Lights. They might, according to one account, be visible as far south as Alabama. Take it from me: that would be unusual. This is because the Northern Lights are created by the earth’s magnetic field in ways that I don’t have time to look up, thereby being able to pretend I understand it all. Of course, the potential is there for more disruptive occurrences than an expanded light show. Radio communication could be disrupted. Power grids could be compromised. Many forms of technology that we have come to rely upon cou