News Astronomy Solar cannibalism By Ron Cowen April 25, 2001 at 11:39 am - More than 2 years ago Share this:Share Share via email (Opens in new window) Email Share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook Share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit Share on X (Opens in new window) X Print (Opens in new window) Print Billion-ton parcels of charged gas hurled from the sun can overtake and eat their slower-moving gaseous brethren, according to researchers who presented their findings March 27 at a meeting of the European Geophysical Society in Nice, France. Cannibalism among these clouds of charged particles, known as coronal mass ejections (CMEs), is more than an astronomical curiosity. CMEs can harm communications and power systems on Earth.