NationStates Jolt Archive

Scientists report in the Journal of Astrophysical Letters that a mass extinction of marine life 450 million years ago might have been caused by radiation from an exploding star, such as a collision between two neutron stars, or a neutron star collapsing into a black hole.

Such an event would cause a ten-second burst of gamma radiation, and if it occurred within our galaxy, it could have wiped out many species on earth. At least if astronomers find out that an asteroid is heading our way, we can do something about it, but if there is a gamma burst, we get no warning. And if we did, there would be no way to protect the planet or ourselves.




http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,3604,1456594,00.html



Any thoughts?

But what are the chances! THE CHANCES!

Death by radiation though doesn't sound as though it would be pleasant.

If it was instant death I personally wouldn't mind if everything was just eradicated right now.

Well, the Earth wasn't sucked into the black hole so we're lucky since we weren't any closer.

It's possible. A freak heat flash hit the Earth once, bringing 150 degree heat to an area of a hundred square miles for 120 seconds back in the 1930's, for example. If it had lasted a week, you'd have total annihilation. A neutron star collapse could make this happen, I'd assume. Maybe it caused the one in the '30's, who knows?

Scientists report in the Journal of Astrophysical Letters that a mass extinction of marine life 450 million years ago might have been caused by radiation from an exploding star, such as a collision between two neutron stars, or a neutron star collapsing into a black hole.

Such an event would cause a ten-second burst of gamma radiation, and if it occurred within our galaxy, it could have wiped out many species on earth. At least if astronomers find out that an asteroid is heading our way, we can do something about it, but if there is a gamma burst, we get no warning. And if we did, there would be no way to protect the planet or ourselves.




http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,3604,1456594,00.html



Any thoughts?

WOW ... honestly read stephan baxter's manifold series (I believe it was space) this sounds just like it!
(in the book ...tward the end there is the discovery that every few hundred thousand years (or million) there is a galixy wide extinction event usualy trigerd by a neutron start impact ... or series of impacts that flood it with radiation)
:) intresting

It's possible. A freak heat flash hit the Earth once, bringing 150 degree heat to an area of a hundred square miles for 120 seconds back in the 1930's.

Are you talking about the Tunguska Event in 1908? If so, that's believed by most scientists nowadays to have been caused by a (relatively) small meteorite, as opposed to some kind of 'blast' from space.

Are you talking about the Tunguska Event in 1908? If so, that's believed by most scientists nowadays to have been caused by a (relatively) small meteorite, as opposed to some kind of 'blast' from space.

We were lucky that hit an isolated area, otherwise Russia would have few less people.

Are you talking about the Tunguska Event in 1908? If so, that's believed by most scientists nowadays to have been caused by a (relatively) small meteorite, as opposed to some kind of 'blast' from space.

Nope. ;)

I'm talking about an actual heat flash. Didn't kill anyone or cause permanent damage. I'll consult my reference book if I can dig it out someplace.

Edit: The one I was thinking of was Coimbria, Portugal. It hit 158 degrees there for 120 seconds in 1933.. unexplained causes.

Considering that we've catalogued the stars that would be close enough to cause this sort of a problem.

I would imagine that the problem stars would have to be within a few hundred light years.

If there were any suitable candidates, you would be able to predict their stellar evolution millenia in advance.

Dammit! Just when I was starting to leave the lead coat and tin foil hat at home.

Considering that we've catalogued the stars that would be close enough to cause this sort of a problem.

I would imagine that the problem stars would have to be within a few hundred light years.

If there were any suitable candidates, you would be able to predict their stellar evolution millenia in advance.

Good thing the closest problem star will go in 4 billion years.

But if a burst occurred in our own galaxy, the effect would be devastating.

Dr Adrian Melott, of the University of Kansas and an author of the latest paper, said: "A gamma ray burst originating within 6,000 light years from Earth would have a devastating effect on life.

"We don't know exactly when one came, but we're rather sure it did come - and left its mark."
[Emphasis mine.]

A 6,000-light-year radius is a very large volume of space, I'll admit that. However, the Milky Way galaxy is a spiral galaxy 100,000 light years in diameter and 10,000 light years thick at the center. I would like to see another source that describes what the predicted effects are at varying ranges. However, if the Earth-lethal range is only 6,000 light years, then the chances of our being killed by one of these things is small, indeed.

--The Democratic States of Cogitation
"Think about it for a moment."

It's nothing new. There was a massive one not long ago (well, 50,000 years ago, but it only reached us recently...) that had a radius of 50,000 lightyears, and it is estimated that had the Earth been 10 lightyears closer, we'd all be dead. We're always having near misses like that, so it stands to reason that at some point in its 4 billion year lifespan, the Earth has actually been hit by something. This is one of many reasons why life in other places is unlikely -- the universe ain't a nice place to live. It's like Birmingham, only... well, nicer.

Nope. ;)

I'm talking about an actual heat flash. Didn't kill anyone or cause permanent damage. I'll consult my reference book if I can dig it out someplace.

Edit: The one I was thinking of was Coimbria, Portugal. It hit 158 degrees there for 120 seconds in 1933.. unexplained causes.


Source? Not that i am doubting you, but I am Portuguese and i have never heard anything about such event here.

And its Coimbra :P

Scientists report in the Journal of Astrophysical Letters that a mass extinction of marine life 450 million years ago might have been caused by radiation from an exploding star, such as a collision between two neutron stars, or a neutron star collapsing into a black hole.

Such an event would cause a ten-second burst of gamma radiation, and if it occurred within our galaxy, it could have wiped out many species on earth. At least if astronomers find out that an asteroid is heading our way, we can do something about it, but if there is a gamma burst, we get no warning. And if we did, there would be no way to protect the planet or ourselves.




http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,3604,1456594,00.html



Any thoughts?
That couldn't have happened. The earth is only 6000 years old!