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Supernova can damage distant planets – "Could trigger a mass extinction"

2023-05-09T03:55:36.785Z

Highlights: A star that explodes as a supernova poses a greater risk to nearby planets than previously thought. Until now, researchers have assumed that only planets within a radius of 50 light-years are affected by its effects. The study, which was published in The Astrophysical Journal, now shows that danger is still imminent even at a distance of 160 light years. The Earth is not currently endangered by such an event because there are no potential supernovae within the X-ray danger zone. However, it may be that such events played a role in Earth's past.



If a star explodes as a supernova, it can be very dangerous for planets at a distance of up to 160 light years – especially if there is life there.

Urbana-Champaign – A star that explodes as a supernova poses a greater risk to nearby planets than previously thought. That's according to a new study conducted by a research team using NASA's Chandra X-ray telescope and other X-ray telescopes. Until now, researchers have assumed that only planets within a radius of 50 light-years around a supernova are affected by its effects. The study, which was published in The Astrophysical Journal, now shows that danger is still imminent even at a distance of 160 light years.

In addition, the research group has found that supernovae can be dangerous for nearby planets in other ways than previously known. Until now, researchers have assumed that two events around a supernova in particular can be fatal for planets in the immediate vicinity: the strong radiation that arrives at the planet in the days and months after the explosion, and the energetic particles that arrive several hundred to thousands of years later. But apparently that wasn't all.

How a supernova attacks the atmospheres of planets

In the aftermath of a supernova, X-rays are also produced, which can also be dangerous, as the new study shows. If the pressure wave of the supernova hits dense gas in the vicinity, a particularly high dose of X-rays can be produced, which arrives at a planet in the vicinity months to years after the explosion and can last for decades.

"If a wave of X-rays were to sweep over a nearby planet, the radiation would greatly alter the planet's atmospheric chemistry," said study leader Ian Brunton (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign), in a statement. "In the case of an Earth-like planet, this process could wipe out a significant portion of the ozone that ultimately protects life from the dangerous ultraviolet radiation of its host star."

If a planet with the biology of the Earth were permanently hit with high-energy radiation from a nearby supernova, this could lead to the extinction of a large number of organisms. Marine organisms at the beginning of the food chain would be particularly affected. "The impact could be significant enough to trigger a mass extinction," the statement said.

Dangerous supernova effects: Earth is not in danger

At the moment, however, there seems to be no cause for concern, at least for the Earth. "The Earth is not currently endangered by such an event because there are no potential supernovae within the X-ray danger zone," says co-author Connor O'Mahoney, adding: "However, it may be that such events played a role in Earth's past."

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There are numerous indications that there may have been supernovae in the vicinity of Earth in the past. In various places around the world, for example, researchers have discovered a certain type of radioactive iron – a clear indication of a supernova. Research assumes that two and eight billion years ago, one supernova each took place near Earth, estimated to be 65 and 500 light years away from our home planet. However, these supernovae cannot yet be associated with specific mass extinction events.

The supernova remnant Cassiopeia A is about 11,000 light-years away from Earth. © imago images/Cover-Images

Research group has studied 31 supernovae with X-ray telescopes

For the study, the research group investigated 31 supernovae and their aftermath with X-ray telescopes. In doing so, they discovered the potentially lethal effects of supernovae, which can interact with their environment and damage the atmospheres of planets up to 160 light-years away. Because X-ray observations of supernovae are rare, the authors of the study rely on further observations. "Further research into the X-rays of supernovae is not only valuable for understanding the life cycle of stars," says co-author Brian Fields. "It also has implications for fields such as astrobiology, paleontology, and the Earth and planetary sciences."

Even though Earth currently appears to be safe from the threat of a supernova, many other planets in the Milky Way are not. (tab)

Source: merkur

All news articles on 2023-05-09

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