IdeaWell

Project ideas from Hacker News discussions.

Level S4 solar radiation event

Original Article

Hacker News Discussion

📝 Discussion Summary (Click to expand)

Summary of Opinions in the Hacker News Discussion

The discussion centered on a specific geomagnetic storm event. The four most prevalent themes were:

  1. Real-time Sighting Reports and Verification Users shared personal observations of the aurora, primarily from European locations, confirming its visibility. Many noted its surprising intensity even in light-polluted urban areas. > "Friends who live in Kreuzberg and Friedrichshain could see it pretty well. I'm a bit further south within Berlin where skies are minimally darker, but between 10pm and 11pm it was so bright that light pollution didn't matter." — bartman

  2. Technical Aspects and Scientific Analysis Participants engaged in technical discussions regarding the storm's severity metrics (KP, G-scale), the nature of the solar cycle, and the impact on technology like radio propagation and power grids. > "Mid to late 2025 was the peak of an 11 year solar cycle (25th one since we've started keeping track). We're on the trailing end of that peak activity now, which is why the past year/several months has seemed so active..." — 0manrho

  3. Criticism of Information Sources and Accessibility A subset of users critiqued the accessibility and format of official government reporting, specifically highlighting the use of non-accessible images for critical text warnings. > "This page looks like an accessibility nightmare. The entire warning text is an image. There is no transcription present for screen reader users." — dschuessler

  4. Preparedness and Speculative Impact of Severe Events Users debated the potential risks of extreme geomagnetic storms (e.g., a Carrington-level event), focusing on infrastructure resilience and personal preparation strategies. > "A really bad event would be that long-distance transmission lines act like antennas and pick up millions of volts and blow up all the transformers." — hnuser123456

🚀 Project Ideas

Aurora Navigator

Summary

  • A unified, accessibility-first aurora alerting and tracking service that aggregates space weather data and user-reported sightings with a focus on non-visual accessibility.
  • Core value proposition: Provides accessible (screen-reader friendly, high contrast, text-first) alerts and data visualizations for aurora events, addressing the frustration with government sites using inaccessible imagery.
Key Value
Target Audience Visually impaired users, accessibility advocates, and general users who need reliable, non-visual notifications for space weather events.
Core Feature Parses raw space weather data (Kp, G-scale, DST) into accessible text summaries and alerts; provides user-submitted sighting reports via text/voice.
Tech Stack Node.js, PostgreSQL, Web Accessibility API (ARIA), Twilio (SMS alerts).
Difficulty Medium
Monetization Hobby

Notes

  • HN commenters would love it because it directly addresses the "accessibility nightmare" of image-based government warnings mentioned by dschuessler and the need for reliable, non-visual alerts as expressed by lukan.
  • Practical utility for ensuring that critical space weather information reaches everyone, regardless of visual ability, fostering inclusivity in scientific data consumption.

Spectral Scan

Summary

  • A tool that scans user-uploaded photos (e.g., from webcams or personal devices) for faint aurora signatures using computer vision, helping users identify missed events in low-light conditions.
  • Core value proposition: Automates the detection of subtle auroral displays in photographs, solving the problem of users missing events or struggling to distinguish auroras from light pollution or other phenomena.
Key Value
Target Audience Casual skywatchers, photographers, and users in light-polluted urban areas who need help identifying faint auroras.
Core Feature Upload a photo; AI model analyzes color gradients and patterns to estimate probability of an aurora presence and visual intensity.
Tech Stack Python, TensorFlow/Keras (or PyTorch for lighter models), Flask, cloud storage.
Difficulty Medium
Monetization Hobby

Notes

  • HN commenters are fascinated by visual data (qwertox, irjustin), but many like fluxflexer and CalRobert missed events despite clear skies. This tool helps validate observations.
  • Utility in citizen science and personal verification, sparking discussions on image processing techniques and data labeling for rare events.

Safe Ascent

Summary

  • A travel advisory service specifically for air travelers during geomagnetic storms, calculating personalized radiation exposure risks based on flight path and storm intensity.
  • Core value proposition: Translates complex space weather metrics (like S-scale) into actionable travel advice for the public, addressing the unmet need for personal risk assessment regarding radiation during flights.
Key Value
Target Audience Frequent flyers, business travelers, and health-conscious individuals concerned about radiation exposure during solar events.
Core Feature Input flight itinerary; receive a risk score and recommendation (e.g., "Low risk," "Consider delaying flight") based on real-time solar radiation data.
Tech Stack React, Python (data processing), NOAA API integration, Google Maps API.
Difficulty Low
Monetization Revenue-ready: Freemium model with premium features for detailed logs or integration with travel booking apps.

Notes

  • Directly addresses the user concern raised by non- and inatreecrown2 about the magnitude of radiation risk during events.
  • Practical utility for the travel industry and individuals, potentially sparking discussion on aviation safety regulations and personal health metrics.

Carrington Comms

Summary

  • A resilience planning tool for homelab and small business users to safeguard against communication disruptions during solar storms, focusing on redundancy and surge protection strategies.
  • Core value proposition: Provides step-by-step guides and checklists for protecting personal electronics and data integrity during geomagnetic disturbances, addressing the "how do I protect my homelab?" anxiety.
Key Value
Target Audience Tech enthusiasts, homelab owners, and small business operators relying on continuous internet connectivity.
Core Feature Interactive checklists for hardware protection (e.g., "Unplug long cables," "Verify UPS") and software redundancy plans (e.g., offsite backups).
Tech Stack Static site generator (e.g., Hugo), JavaScript for interactivity.
Difficulty Low
Monetization Hobby

Notes

  • Responds to the specific technical questions posed by andrewinardeer and rootusrootus regarding infrastructure protection.
  • Offers practical utility for a niche but engaged audience (HN users), fostering community discussions on specific hardware setups and disaster preparedness.

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