Jakarta, CNN Indonesia —
Supernovathe violent explosion of a dying star, is one of the most spectacular phenomena in universe. How big a threat is it to Earth?
When a giant star like Betelgeuse explodes, its light will be brighter than any planet, almost matching the light of a full moon. Although stunning, Betelgeuse’s explosion is not dangerous for Earth because it is about 650 light years away.
To reach a dangerous stage, a supernova would have to occur much closer, around 25-30 light years away. At this distance, various dangerous effects such as high radiation, shock waves and high energy (cosmic) particles can have a significant impact.
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Supernovae produce energy in various forms, including neutrinos, X-rays, and gamma rays. Neutrinos generally do not interact with matter, so they are not dangerous.
However, strong enough X-ray and gamma radiation can destroy nitrogen and oxygen molecules in Earth’s atmosphere.
This process causes the formation of nitrogen oxides which damage the ozone layer. Without ozone, the Earth would be exposed to the sun’s ultraviolet rays, killing photosynthetic organisms such as algae that are the basis of the food chain, potentially triggering mass extinctions.
“In fact, some astronomers think a nearby supernova caused a mass extinction 360 million years ago that killed 75 percent of all species,” wrote astrophysicist at SUNY Stony Brook and the Flatiron Institute in New York City Paul M. Sutter in SpaceThursday (14/11).
Additionally, high-velocity cosmic particles can exacerbate atmospheric damage, magnifying risks to Earth’s ecosystems.
Another threat, there are certain types of supernovae that can spread X radiation and cosmic particles more than 150 light years away.
In addition, gamma-ray bursts can emit energy through narrow beams as far as 10,000 light years. Although rare, this kind of emission has the potential to destroy the Earth’s atmosphere if directed correctly.
“They are much more dangerous because they are incredibly powerful and their blast energy is focused into a narrow beam that can penetrate galaxies as far as 10,000 light years,” Sutter wrote.
The good news is that there are no star candidates that have the potential to go supernova within a radius of 30 light years from Earth. The closest candidate, Spica, is about 250 light years away. However, on longer cosmic time scales, this threat does not completely disappear.
Over the next 10 million years, our solar system will pass through the Orion spiral arm, a region of the galaxy with a high star birth rate. This means the possibility of future supernova exposure remains, although very rare.
(wnu/dmi)
[Gambas:Video CNN]
Supernova: A Dazzling Disaster?
Jakarta, CNN Indonesia — Supernovae, the violent explosions of dying stars, are like the universe’s own fireworks display. They’re spectacular, they’re bright, and they’re—thankfully—mostly harmless to us Earth dwellers. But, just how much should we really worry about a supernova crashing our planet party?
When a colossal star like Betelgeuse decides to go out with a bang, it won’t be just a flicker. Its brightness can surpass that of any planet and almost rival a full moon! Now, isn’t that the ultimate mood lighting for a romantic evening? But wait, before you rush to grab a telescope, let’s have a reality check. Betelgeuse is approximately 650 light years away from us, which means we can admire the show without worrying it’ll throw a cosmic tantrum right outside our atmosphere. Talk about stellar distance selling: “Now you see it, now you don’t!”
However, should you be imagining a supernova primed and ready to explode much closer—around 25 to 30 light years away—then we’re in for some serious consequences. Think high radiation levels, intense shockwaves, and energetic cosmic particles. It makes your regular Monday morning meeting feel like a walk in the park, doesn’t it?
Supernovae are like fireworks on steroids; they produce energy in forms most of us can’t even comprehend, including neutrinos, X-rays, and gamma rays. But don’t let the word “neutrinos” fool you—these little guys are practically ninjas; they don’t interact with matter and can pass through you without you so much as sneezing. Meanwhile, X-ray and gamma radiation? Not so friendly. These can wreak havoc on the nitrogen and oxygen molecules in our atmosphere. That’s right, they can trigger a chain reaction that produces nitrogen oxides, which will have the ozone layer waving a white flag before we even know what happened!
Without our trusty ozone layer, Earth could be exposed to the sun’s ultraviolet rays—a one-way ticket for photosynthetic organisms, especially algae, to the extinction party. Astronomers even speculate that a nearby supernova may have played a major role in a mass extinction event 360 million years ago. Talk about a ‘whoops’ moment for our little planet. So, the next time you complain about your workplace drama, remember that 75% of all species once vanished—now that’s some serious closing time!
If that’s not enough to keep you up at night, consider this: some supernovae can send beams of gamma radiation and cosmic particles blasting off more than 150 light years away! That’s like the universe’s version of “tag, you’re it!” And while gamma-ray bursts are rare, they’ve got a voracious appetite for destruction, capable of obliterating the Earth’s atmosphere if they’re pointed in our direction. Sutter, the astrophysicist guy, even describes them as “incredibly powerful”—like a bad haircut that just won’t wash out!
But don’t alarm the children just yet; the good news is that there are currently no supernova candidates within 30 light years of Earth ready to pull the trigger. The closest contender is Spica, lounging around at about 250 light years away. It’s like looking for a ride home from the party—sure, it could happen, but it might take a while.
However, let’s not forget that the universe is a bustling place. Our solar system is gearing up to waltz through the Orion spiral arm over the next 10 million years. This neighborhood boasts a higher star birth rate, and, as grandfathers of the cosmos like to say, “the possibility of supernova exposure remains, although very rare.” Talk about a long game of dodgeball!
(wnu/dmi)
[Gambas:Video CNN]
How could a nearby supernova impact the ozone layer and life on Earth?
**Interview Transcript: Supernovae and Their Impact on Earth**
**Host:** Welcome to CNN Indonesia. Today, we have astrophysicist Paul M. Sutter from SUNY Stony Brook and the Flatiron Institute in New York City. Thank you for joining us, Paul!
**Paul Sutter:** Thank you for having me!
**Host:** Let’s dive right in. Supernovae are truly fascinating, but how much of a threat do they pose to Earth?
**Paul Sutter:** Great question! Supernovae are indeed spectacular events, much like cosmic fireworks. However, the threat they pose largely depends on their distance from us. For example, Betelgeuse, a well-known red supergiant, is around 650 light-years away. Any explosion from that star wouldn’t harm us, although it would certainly brighten our skies.
**Host:** So, Betelgeuse is not a concern. But what if a supernova were to occur much closer to home, say within 25 to 30 light-years?
**Paul Sutter:** That’s where things get serious. If a supernova exploded this close, the consequences would be severe. We’d face high radiation levels, intense shockwaves, and energetic cosmic particles that could disrupt our ecosystem.
**Host:** We often hear about neutron and gamma rays produced by supernovae. What effects do they have on our atmosphere?
**Paul Sutter:** Supernovae release various forms of energy, including neutrinos, X-rays, and gamma rays. While neutrinos are harmless as they hardly interact with matter, X-ray and gamma radiation can be detrimental. These can destroy nitrogen and oxygen molecules in our atmosphere, leading to the creation of nitrogen oxides. This process can severely damage the ozone layer, exposing Earth to harmful ultraviolet rays.
**Host:** That sounds alarming! Without the ozone layer, what would happen to life on Earth?
**Paul Sutter:** Without a protective ozone layer, we’d be exposed to increased UV radiation, which could have catastrophic effects on photosynthetic organisms like algae, which are the foundation of our food chains. There’s even evidence that a nearby supernova may have triggered a mass extinction 360 million years ago.
**Host:** It sounds like we need to be cautious. Are there any nearby stars that could go supernova within a dangerous range?
**Paul Sutter:** Fortunately, there are no known candidates ready to explode within 30 light-years of Earth. The closest potential supernova is Spica, at about 250 light-years away. But it’s important to note that cosmic time scales can be unpredictable, and over the next 10 million years, our solar system may traverse regions with higher star-birth rates, which could pose future risks.
**Host:** So, despite the distance, there’s still a potential for concern?
**Paul Sutter:** Exactly. While supernovae are rare, the possibility remains in the distant future, especially if we encounter phenomena like gamma-ray bursts, which could exert significant effects if directed at us from further away.
**Host:** This has been incredibly enlightening, Paul. Thank you for sharing your insights on supernovae and their impact on Earth!
**Paul Sutter:** My pleasure! It’s always good to talk about the wonders of the universe.
**Host:** And that wraps up our segment on supernovae. Stay curious, and join us next time for more cosmic insights!
