A Supernova Exploded Dangerously Close to Earth 2.5 Million Years Ago

Universe Today ^ | 2 Oct, 2002 | EVAN GOUGH

[MtnClimber]

In its 4.5 billion year history, Earth has had to run the gauntlet. Numerous catastrophes have imperilled the planet, from massive impacts, to volcanic conflagrations, to frigid episodes of snowball Earth. Yet life persists.

Among all of the hazards that threaten a planet, the most potentially calamitous might be a nearby star exploding as a supernova.

Whan a massive enough star reaches the end of its life, it explodes as a supernova. The hyper-energetic explosion can light up the sky for months, turning night into day for any planets close enough. If a planet is too close, it will be sterilized, even destroyed. As the star goes through its death throes, it produces certain chemical elements which are spread out into space.

For years, researchers have puzzled over evidence that a supernova exploded somewhere in Earth’s vicinity a couple million years ago. The evidence is a concentration of 60Fe, an isotope of iron produced by supernovae, found around the Earth.

Now, a new study presents additional evidence of a supernova explosion near Earth 2.5 million years ago. This time, its a concentration of 53Mn, another radioisotope produced by supernovae.

[MtnClimber]

Ping

[LeonardFMason]

Gee. Thanks.

[CondorFlight]

Hey, it’s 2020. Time for something new...

[ought-six]

I remember that one; I just got a slight sunburn.

[MtnClimber]

Invest in a good hard hat.

[redshawk]

Yellowstone

[Gamecock]

Whan [sic] a massive enough star reaches the end of its life, it explodes as a supernova.

When a chicken supernova reahes the end of it's life.

[sinsofsolarempirefan]

Wonder if that would have fried anything electronic in the process?

Lucky for us we wern’t using technology more sophisticated than a rock for smashing nuts open.

[JoeFromSidney]

<

We live in a dangerous stellar neighborhood.

[dfwgator]

Where were you when we were getting high?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tI-5uv4wryI

[MtnClimber]

Lucky for us we wern’t using technology more sophisticated than a rock for smashing nuts open.

I wonder if they prepped for a time when the rocks stopped working?

[Ken522]

Did you get any pictures?? /s

[njslim]

MEOTOR 2020 !!!!!!!

[Does so]

It’s from Supernovae that we get Earth’s gold...

[Don@VB]

A little more advanced notice would have been helpful.

[themidnightskulker]

2.5 million years ago was when the 60Fe arrived.
Assuming that it wasn’t traveling at the speed of light, the explosion was a bit of a distance away. There should be some remnants of the cloud somewhere.

[EEGator]

No thank you.

[EEGator]

Looks like an fluorescent, electric eyeball.

[campaignPete R-CT]

Wat exactly do they mean by “close”?