“In 2003, during a local Belgian election, a candidate received over 4,000 extra votes on a computerized voting machine — more than was physically possible, triggering an investigation…The leading explanation for each of these events is what’s known as a bit flip: an electronic glitch caused by radiation from space. Although uncommon, they can have significant consequences. And as our reliance on electronics continues to increase, so does our vulnerability to bit flips.“
-Quote from a recent article from Astronomy magazine titled “Our Planet’s Electronic Vulnerability.” The article goes on to explain how high-energy radiation from the Sun as well as deep space can cause a “bit flip” that is difficult to detect. Given the use of electronic voting machines in US elections, we can only hope that this radiation issue does not come up in the fall election. Asking the voters to “wait for the science” before jumping to conclusions is not a viable option.
Our Awesome Universe 