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The original was posted on /r/todayilearned by /u/NoDontClickOnThat on 2025-07-07 12:54:02+00:00.

Original Title: TIL that in 1859, a geomagnetic storm from a huge solar flare hit the Earth and auroras were visible around the globe. Telegraph systems in Europe and North America failed. Some telegraph equipment operated for over an hour without needing external electrical power.