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Gamma Ray Burst (GRB) Explained - Could Radiation from a GRB (Gamma Ray Burst) Cause Extinction?
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What is a Gamma Ray Burst? Gamma Ray Bursts, or GRB, is an incredible release of gamma radiation into deep space from objects in distant galaxies billions of light years from earth. Every night, satellites in orbit detect 1-2 GRB events. Each Gamma Ray Burst releases more energy in a few seconds than our sun emits during its entire 10 billion year lifespan!
GRBs are formed when a massive star ends its life as a supernova. The outer part of the star explodes and the core material rapidly collapses and forms a black hole. This process releases an incredible amount of gamma radiation in the form of two gamma ray jets shooting out of the collapsing stellar material.
From Earth, we can only detect the Gamma Ray Bursts that happen to be aligned with Earth such that the jet of gamma radiation is aimed directly at the Earth. So far, all GRB events that we have detected have come from distant galaxies. No GRBs have occurred in the milky way galaxy.
If a GRB were to occur close to earth, even within 1000 light years and aimed in our direction, it would destroy the Earth's ozone layer immediately and could lead to a global extinction event. In fact, there is evidence that Gamma Ray Bursts have occurred in the distant past and may have caused extinction in Earth's history.
GRBs are formed when a massive star ends its life as a supernova. The outer part of the star explodes and the core material rapidly collapses and forms a black hole. This process releases an incredible amount of gamma radiation in the form of two gamma ray jets shooting out of the collapsing stellar material.
From Earth, we can only detect the Gamma Ray Bursts that happen to be aligned with Earth such that the jet of gamma radiation is aimed directly at the Earth. So far, all GRB events that we have detected have come from distant galaxies. No GRBs have occurred in the milky way galaxy.
If a GRB were to occur close to earth, even within 1000 light years and aimed in our direction, it would destroy the Earth's ozone layer immediately and could lead to a global extinction event. In fact, there is evidence that Gamma Ray Bursts have occurred in the distant past and may have caused extinction in Earth's history.
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