[kaivi]

> by using ECC memory ECC protects from bit flips, but aren't high-energy particles required for flipping a bit? AFAIK nothing in the solar wind interaction with our atmosphere can produce them. They'd likely arrive earlier than the wind, but I also haven't heard of gamma ray bursts to accompany solar flares...

[shagie]

They are most noticeable for x-rays, though there is an increase in gamma rays too.

https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/products/goes-x-ray-flux

https://www.epa.gov/radtown/radiation-solar-activity

> Solar flares are large eruptions of energy coming off the Sun containing several different forms of energy: heat, magnetic energy, and ionizing radiation. The ionizing radiation released during solar flares includes x-rays and gamma rays. These rays of ionizing radiation can damage satellites because they are in space and are not protected by the Earth’s atmosphere. Magnetic energy from solar flares can interrupt radio communication on Earth or damage communications satellites.

Unless you've got a satellite, this likely isn't impacting you.

Bit flips tend to be from from heavy charged particles. https://www.scienceabc.com/innovation/what-are-bit-flips-and...

I believe you're more likely to have a bit flip from radioactive decay in the chip itself than a cosmic ray.