Potentially Lethal Gamma-Ray Burst From Star WR 104 Could Reach Earth
Earth may lie in the path of a dangerous gamma-ray burst that could wipe out a quarter of our atmospheric ozone.
Astronomers say WR 104, a Wolf-Rayet star about 8,000 light years away, could go supernova any day, which would generate gamma-rays that could reach earth.
‘You would first notice a 10-second blue flash in the upper atmosphere, but then the damage would be done.’
“We could see it go supernova anywhere from tomorrow to 500,000 years from now,” astronomer Grant Hill told Forbes. “For all intents and purposes, the gamma-ray burst and optical photons from the supernova would arrive simultaneously.”
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