An explosion of Sun burps could be about to wreak havoc on the world - hitting everything from the internet and sat-nav systems to folks' moods and sleep patterns.

NASA scientists have warned the Sun may be 'waking up' from a period of relative inactivity and start firing off solar flares, resulting in decades of potentially dangerous space weather.

In a new study published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters researchers analysed multiple aspects of solar activity including winds, magnetic field strength and sunspot numbers.

They found they have been on an upward trend since 2008 and could rise even more in future.

Boffins had thought the Sun - which was thought to follow an 11-year cycle of activity - would enter a prolonged quiet period known as 'solar minimum'.

But instead it has reached its highest number of sunspots in more than 20 years and spat out a record number of X-class flares - the most powerful type of explosion it can produce.

Earth has been hit by several major geomagnetic storms disturbing the planet's magnetic field.

One in May 2024 triggered some of the most vibrant aurora displays in centuries and caused £400m in damage.

The new study warns this will become the 'status quo' over the next few decades.

That could spell chaos with mankind more reliant than ever on technology prone to interference from space weather such as power grids, GPS-controlled equipment and Earth-orbiting satellites which can be knocked out of the sky by solar storms.

Studies also suggest geomagnetic activity can influence folks physiologically and psychologically and affect their sleep, mood and even cardiovascular systems.

Lead study author Jamie Jasinski, a plasma physicist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in southern California, US, said: "All signs were pointing to the Sun going into a prolonged phase of low activity.

Scientists are not sure what may be driving the Sun's current resurgence and are feverishly conducting further analysis.

Jasinski said: "The longer-term trends are a lot less predictable and are something we don't completely understand yet."

Sun is 'waking up' and 'solar burps' could break the internet and change weather - Daily Star