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Cosmic catastrophe 'a certainty'
BBC ^ | 9 May 02 | Dr David Whitehouse

Posted on 05/09/2002 9:17:20 AM PDT by RightWhale

Wednesday, 8 May, 2002, 14:10 GMT 15:10 UK

Cosmic catastrophe 'a certainty'

Sooner or later, a catastrophe from space will wipe out almost all life on Earth.

According to Dr Arnon Dar, of the Technion Space Research Institute, Israel, a particular type of exploding star going off anywhere in our region of the Universe would devastate our planet.

Using the latest statistics and calculations, he argues that a supermassive star collapsing at the end of its lifetime would form a black hole and send out a beam of destructive radiation and particles that would sterilise any planet in its path.

The odds are that any planet in our galaxy would be affected about once every one hundred million years. "It is a certainty; the timescales are comparable to mass extinctions seen in Earth's geological record," Dr Dar told BBC News Online.

No hiding place

Supermassive stars, those with a mass substantially greater than our Sun, are scattered throughout the galaxy. It is thought that when they collapse at the end of their lives, they eject an intense beam of radiation, called gamma-rays, into space.

So powerful are these gamma-rays, and the energetic sub-atomic particles that follow in their wake, that they could have a major influence on life in our galaxy.

"If such a beam were to strike Earth, the effects would be totally devastating, unlike anything we could imagine," Dr Dar said.

On the side of Earth facing the explosion, searing shock waves will begin to rip through the atmosphere igniting infernos when they reach the ground.

Within moments of the arrival of the radiation from deep space, the atmospheric temperature will begin rising rapidly, wreaking havoc with global weather systems.

Destructive 'daughters'

All organic material on the surface of Earth will start to burn. Survivors will cower in caves and buildings. But the worst is yet to come.

The initial gamma-ray burst will last a fraction of a second. Almost immediately afterwards will come the cosmic rays, which will drench our planet for days. There will be no hiding place.

Cosmic rays are highly energetic particles travelling through space at almost the speed of light. They will slam into the atmosphere, depositing vast amounts of energy and creating swarms of destructive "daughter" particles.

These particles, called muons, will penetrate hundreds of metres into rocks so that few caves will offer protection and even deep-sea creatures will be affected by lethal doses of radiation.

The Earth's ecosystem will be destroyed. "The few who might survive will wish they had died," said Dr Dar. "They will struggle, forlornly, on a wrecked planet."

Dr Dar points out that many of the great extinctions that regularly punctuate the Earth's history are consistent with being caused by a devastating influx of radiation from space.

Threatening stars

"Direct proof that it happened this way is lacking at present," he said, "but many people are looking for it."

There is some good news! Because the gamma-ray bursts from collapsing supermassive stars are shot across the cosmos in narrow beams, probably no more than a degree across, most of them will miss the Earth.

However, the latest statistics suggest once every one hundred million years or so, we will be unlucky. Curiously, this is about the rate of global extinctions on Earth.

At the moment, astronomers do not know which star to watch. Stars, like the supermassive Eta Carinae, visible in the Southern Hemisphere, are likely to explode and send out a gamma-ray burst sometime in the next million years or so. But this particular star is not pointing in our direction.

Undoubtedly, there is a star that is, but as yet astronomers have not found it. But even if they do, will we get any warning?

"Not with our current understanding of science," said Dr Dar, "but then science progresses. Perhaps, one day we will be able to tell which stars are threatening."


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News
KEYWORDS: cosmicdoom; crevolist; helpusalgore
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What does the Sierra Club have to say about this? What about the spotted owl? PETA should do something to save the baby seals. Vegans will miss their bean sprouts. Thanks to the English for once more pointing out a world-threatening problem and no solution.
1 posted on 05/09/2002 9:17:22 AM PDT by RightWhale
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To: RightWhale
Thanks to the English for once more pointing out a world-threatening problem and no solution.

Couldn't we just wrap the planet in tin foil?

2 posted on 05/09/2002 9:19:57 AM PDT by eFudd
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To: eFudd

3 posted on 05/09/2002 9:24:04 AM PDT by Diogenesis
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To: RightWhale
Using the latest statistics and calculations

He once again determined that the probability of something, somewhere, happening over an nearly endless stretch of time is equal to a certainty.

4 posted on 05/09/2002 9:25:11 AM PDT by Fzob
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To: eFudd
Sorry, Dr. Dar, but I believe God has other plans for us...
5 posted on 05/09/2002 9:25:47 AM PDT by Russ
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To: RightWhale
Damn, might as well cash out the 401k.
6 posted on 05/09/2002 9:27:03 AM PDT by Semper Paratus
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To: Fzob
Can't we all just get along?
7 posted on 05/09/2002 9:27:30 AM PDT by Jerrybob
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To: eFudd
At least it provides some insight to Fermi's Paradox.
8 posted on 05/09/2002 9:30:03 AM PDT by RightWhale
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To: Jerrybob
Can't we all just get along

Using the latest statistics and calculations I can say with a certainty -- maybe.

9 posted on 05/09/2002 9:30:41 AM PDT by Fzob
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To: RightWhale

10 posted on 05/09/2002 9:31:04 AM PDT by mhking
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To: RightWhale
damn! guess i'll go ahead and smoke up those cuban cigars i've been hoarding...
11 posted on 05/09/2002 9:32:40 AM PDT by chilepepper
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To: RightWhale
This information is common knowledge for anyone that knows anything about Astronomy. Let's not get too excited, we're talking light years here.
12 posted on 05/09/2002 9:33:10 AM PDT by rs79bm
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To: RightWhale
Exactly how much does Dr. Dar get paid for his stunning ability to reach ridiculously obvious conclusions.
13 posted on 05/09/2002 9:33:17 AM PDT by PBRSTREETGANG
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To: RightWhale
"I'm sure banning SUVs will alleviate this problem in some small part at least."

-- Al Gore, 2004

14 posted on 05/09/2002 9:34:43 AM PDT by VadeRetro
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To: RightWhale
I don't suppose there will be an open bar at the big BBQ?
15 posted on 05/09/2002 9:36:04 AM PDT by Dust in the Wind
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To: RightWhale
A sort of galactic neutron bomb.

Perhaps the supermassive star that will leave this devastation has already collapsed. The gun has fired; the bullet just hasn't hit the target yet.

16 posted on 05/09/2002 9:38:10 AM PDT by Kevin Curry
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To: RightWhale
"...At the moment, astronomers do not know which star to watch. Stars, like the supermassive Eta Carinae, visible in the Southern Hemisphere, are likely to explode and send out a gamma-ray burst sometime in the next million years or so. But this particular star is not pointing in our direction..."

Not pointing in our direction?
In what direction does a star "point"?

And also-
"...Cosmic rays are highly energetic particles travelling through space at almost the speed of light. They will slam into the atmosphere, depositing vast amounts of energy and creating swarms of destructive "daughter" particles..."

How can you "SEE" something coming towards you at the speed of light.

17 posted on 05/09/2002 9:39:30 AM PDT by Hanging Chad
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Let's begin sacrificing telemarketers and commercial
spammers now to prevent the catastrophe.
18 posted on 05/09/2002 9:41:00 AM PDT by ofMagog
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To: RightWhale
I knew, I just knew that there would be some use some day for all the Y2K supplies I amassed.
I'll have the last laugh yet, guys!
19 posted on 05/09/2002 9:41:02 AM PDT by Revolting cat!
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To: crevo_list; PatrickHenry; RadioAstronomer; longshadow
End a da woild bump!
20 posted on 05/09/2002 9:44:17 AM PDT by VadeRetro
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