Scientists warn 'superflares' could pose threat to Earth

Scientists are warning that superflares pose a potential threat to our planet.

Superflares are powerful bursts of radiation much larger than the solar flares we are used to observing in our galaxy.

Young and active stars are often behind the biggest eruptions, with researchers recently identifying a star that emitted a turbocharged flare some 10 billion times more energetic than those typically seen bursting from the Sun, according to Astronomy magazine.

Now scientists at the University of Colorado Boulder are warning that our own sun is prone to the odd superflare eruption that could easily hit Earth - and in fact one may be long overdue.

But what would happen if our planet was in the direct path of one?

Find out in the video above.