sunspots

( n.)

   1. Notional cause of an odd error. "Why did the program suddenly turn
   the screen blue?" "Sunspots, I guess."

   2.  Also  the  cause of {bit rot} -- from the myth that sunspots will
   increase  {cosmic  rays},  which  can flip single bits in memory. See
   also {phase of the moon}.

[glossary]
[Reference(s) to this entry by made by: {cosmic rays}]