Posted on 10/09/2011 8:28:11 PM PDT by smokingfrog
New research suggests the continuation of life on Earth depends on massive explosions on the other side of the galaxy.
The explosions, gamma-ray bursts thought to occur when two stars collide, can release tons of high-energy gamma-ray radiation into space.
Scientists believe they have already played a part in some the planet's extinctions.
They say the blasts could be contributing to the depletion of the Earth's ozone layer.
Brian Thomas, of Washburn University, in Topeka, Kansas, said: 'We find that a kind of gamma-ray burst — a short gamma-ray burst — is probably more significant than a longer gamma-ray burst.
'The duration is not as important as the amount of radiation.'
The research is being presented on Sunday, October 9, at the Geological Society of America's annual meeting in Minneapolis.
It is thought to be the first time scientists have connected the timing of these gamma-ray bursts to extinctions on Earth that can be dated through the fossil record. They say the blasts could be contributing to the depletion of the Earth's ozone layer.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
the blasts could be contributing to the depletion of the Earth’s ozone layer.
Oh really? Imagine that.
If gamma rays have caused earlier extinctions, that would mean that Gary Larson (The Far Side) was wrong when he attributed the dinosaurs' going extinct to their smoking cigarettes.
Somebody get Algore on this right away.
Gamma ray credits?
According to Marvel Comics we just get green and ornery.
My Gamma used to have outbursts all the time. She was a mean old bitc#.
My Gamma made a mean cherry pie.
How is this new? This was in a college course I had nearly 40 years ago.
But Gamera is FRIEND OF CHILDREN!!!
Ah, but how will it effect my Man-in-the-Moon marigolds?
Dang it. Should be “...affect”...
“could be contributing to the depletion of the Earth’s ozone layer”
lets ban xray bursts like we did cfcs
Holy crap, I just spewed on my keyboard.
Laugh out loud of the day !
Well, the fact that we are here as the result of billions of years of life on this planet is evidence that this isn’t something that I should lose sleep over. Could it happen? Yes. Is it likely to happen in my lifetime? The odds would probably be worse than me hitting Powerball and Megamillions in the same week on $1.00 bets.
The “we are here” logic has also been used to demonstrate that the sun’s output is (reasonably) stable, and hasn’t had any (serious) outbursts for at least 500 million years.
Ping.
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