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When the bright star Betelgeuse explodes, it will be an impressive sight. The star’s explosion, called a supernova, would be brighter than any planet and almost as bright as a full moon. It is visible during the day and you can read a book under its light at midnight. It lasts several months before disappearing, as happens with all supernovae.
But it is not dangerous. For that I must get closer; Betelgeuse is about 650 light years away. So are there stars that pose a threat to us?
To estimate how close a supernova is to massive damage landwe have to look at the destructive capabilities of supernovae.
First, the shock wave from the explosion itself. But trust me: If you’re close enough to a supernova that you don’t have to worry about the shock wave, you’re close enough to a pre-supernova star that you’ve already received a lethal dose of radiation, and you should stay . away. A long time ago.
Then, there was visible light. Even if it has a big effect and causes blindness, this will not be a factor that will destroy our planet.
Speaking of energy production, most of the energy released by supernovae is in the form of neutrinos, ghost particles that almost never interact with matter. In fact, there are trillions of neutrinos going through your body right now and I bet you don’t even realize it. So even if you had a supernova-sized neutrino in your face, it wouldn’t bother you.
But what about other light waves, such as X-rays and gamma rays? The good news is that supernovae don’t usually produce a lot of high-energy radiation. But the bad news is that this is only relative. On any reasonable aggregate scale (such as the number of gamma rays that pass through the atmosphere), this amount is still high-energy radiation.
And finally, there are cosmic rays, particles that are accelerated almost to the limit the speed of light. Supernovae are capable of producing large amounts of cosmic rays, which can cause massive damage.
Related: A very rare ‘failed supernova’ may have swept a star from the night sky without a trace
bending radius
So what makes X-rays, gamma rays, and cosmic rays so dangerous to Earth? This type of radiation has enough energy to destroy nitrogen and oxygen molecules. The elements are inside the atmosphere of the earth They prefer to float as molecules. But once they separate, they combine in interesting and surprising ways (for example, they produce various nitrogen oxides, including nitrous oxide, to also known as laughing gas), which causes ozone depletion.
Without the ozone layer, the earth is vulnerable to ultraviolet radiation from sun. Not only does this mean faster skin browning, faster skin burns, and higher skin cancer rates. Photosynthetic microorganisms, such as algae, become vulnerable. In fact, they cook and die. And because they are the base of the food chain, the whole ecosystem collapses and its mass to disappear.
For supernovae to be likely to occur in our galaxy, the dying star would have to be about 25 to 30 light years from Earth to remove at least half of the ozone layer, which is enough to induce the aforementioned negative effects. things.
And here’s good news to help you sleep at night: There are no known supernova candidates within 30 light years of Earth. The closest candidate, Spica, is about 250 light-years away, and no star has been a candidate for supernova within 30 light-years of Earth in its lifetime. So we are safe on that, at least for now.
However, on longer time scales, things become more interesting because they tend to deal with groups that pose a threat to the entire biosphere.
One of our fun things solar system now into Orion’s spiral arm The Milky Wayand spiral arms are known for their high star levels (which is why they tend to stand out in images). But a higher rate of star formation means a higher rate of stellar death, which means a higher than average chance of getting too close for comfort in the 10 million years it takes us to cross.
Once all these factors are taken into account, you are left with an estimate of potentially fatal supernova events several times per billion years.
In fact, some astronomers believe that there is a short distance a supernova caused the mass extinction 360 million years agowhich killed 75% of all species.
Don’t sleep on it
There are a few caveats, however: this analysis only applies to normal, ordinary supernovae. There are also special cases where a dying star is covered in a thick layer of dust. When the supernova’s shock wave hit the dust, it released X-rays, followed by an explosion of cosmic rays centuries later. This is a double whammy: X-rays can travel more than 150 light years, weakening the planet’s atmosphereand then, several hundred years later, cosmic rays finished the job.
Then there are type Ia supernovae, which are triggered when very dense white dwarfs (the remnants of low or intermediate mass stars like the Sun) collect material from their companion stars have in orbit. But white dwarfs are generally small and dark, making them harder to detect, and their evolution into supernovae is much more speculative. One day they just hang out and the next they turn into a nuclear inferno.
Fortunately, the closest candidate is the binary white dwarf IK Pegasi, located about 150 light years away.
However, before you get too complacent, you should know about gamma-ray bursts, which come from neutron star mergers and hypernovae. They are much more dangerous because they are very powerful and the energy of the explosion is concentrated in a narrow beam that can pass through galaxies more than 10,000 light years away. Because gamma-ray bursts are much further away than supernovae, they are more difficult to predict and plan for.
Sleep peacefully!
Originally published in out.com.
2024-11-22 16:20:00
#supernova #destroy #Earth #Island #News
* How might the study of past supernovae events on Earth help us refine our predictions and preparedness for future events?
## Open-Ended Questions for Discussion Based on the Article:
Here are some open-ended questions organized into thematic sections, inspired by the article:
**I. Supernovae & Their Impact:**
* The article describes the ways supernovae can impact Earth. Beyond the ozone layer depletion, what other potential consequences could a nearby supernova have on our planet and its inhabitants?
* The article mentions a possible link between a supernova and a mass extinction event. How could we investigate this further? What evidence would support or refute such a connection?
* Considering the immense power of supernovae, do you think they pose a significant threat to the continued existence of life on Earth? Why or why not?
**II. Distance and Frequency:**
* The article states that supernovae within a certain distance pose a greater risk. What factors determine this “safe distance”? How do astronomers estimate the likelihood of a supernova occurring within this range?
* If a supernova were to occur within a dangerous distance, how much warning would we have? What steps could we take to prepare?
**III. Types of Supernovae:**
* The article differentiates between regular supernovae and special cases like those involving dust or white dwarfs. How do these different types of supernovae vary in their potential impact on Earth? Which type do you think is the most concerning?
**IV. Gamma-Ray Bursts and Cosmic Threats:**
* The article briefly mentions gamma-ray bursts as a more dangerous phenomenon than supernovae. Why are they considered more dangerous? What are the challenges in predicting and protecting against them?
**V. Broader Implications:**
* Do you think humans should be concerned about cosmic threats like supernovae? What responsibility do we have in understanding and mitigating these risks?
* How might the study of supernovae and other cosmic events contribute to our understanding of the universe and our place within it?
These open-ended questions are designed to spark discussion, encourage critical thinking, and explore diverse perspectives on the topic of supernovae and their potential impact on Earth.
