Ray Sanchez of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel has been reporting on Ike and other recent storms.

NPR: Cuba Reeling From Recent Storms

Mr. RAY SANCHEZ (Reporter, South Florida Sun-Sentinel): That's correct.

NPR: Cuba Reeling From Recent Storms

Eichler thinks that such a sun-grazing comet may have triggered a large solar flare and cosmic ray-generating shockwaves as recently as 775 A.D.

FORBES: Sun-Grazing Comets As Triggers For Electromagnetic Armageddon

His (as yet unpublished) research confirms, he says, that the variations in cloud cover seen by satellites match those in cosmic-ray flux better than anything else, such as the sun's total brightness.

ECONOMIST: Global warming: In flux | The

When the sun is in this state, it also sends less energy out in the soft X-ray and extreme ultraviolet parts of its spectrum.

MSN: Earth's upper atmosphere cooling dramatically