A new study suggests that violent supernova explosions may have triggered at least two mass extinction events on Earth, including the late Devonian and Ordovician extinctions. Researchers at Keele University analyzed the distribution of massive stars within a kiloparsec of the sun and found that the rate of supernovae occurrences near Earth is consistent with the timings of these two major mass extinctions.
The study, published in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, suggests that a supernova explosion close to Earth could have stripped the planet’s atmosphere of its ozone, sparked acid rain, and exposed life to harmful ultraviolet radiation from the sun. The Ordovician extinction event killed 60% of marine invertebrates, while the late Devonian extinction wiped out around 70% of all species.
Lead author Dr. Alexis Quintana stated that supernova explosions bring heavy chemical elements into the interstellar medium, which are then used to form new stars and planets. However, if a planet is located too close to this event, it can have devastating effects on life on Earth.
The researchers calculated the supernova rate within 20 parsecs of the sun, or approximately 65 light-years, and compared it with the approximate rate of mass extinction events linked to nearby supernovae. Their findings support the theory that a supernova explosion was responsible for both the late Devonian and Ordovician extinction events.
Astronomers believe about one or two supernovae occur each century in galaxies like the Milky Way, but there are no nearby stars predicted to go supernova within the next million years. The study highlights the importance of studying massive star clusters and galaxies to better understand the origins of our universe.
Source: https://phys.org/news/2025-03-violent-supernovae-triggered-earth-extinctions.html