The end of the world may come at any moment! Scientists have discovered a cosmic threat just around the corner!

 Cosmic phenomena such as neutron star collisions, called kilonovae, can produce explosions powerful enough to threaten life on Earth if they come close enough. Research by scientists at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, published in The Astrophysical Journal, provides new insights into the potential threats these cosmic events could pose to our planet.

Kielowa, which is the result of the collision of two neutron stars, can trigger a series of phenomena that pose a threat to life on Earth. Among these, the greatest dangers come from gamma rays and X-rays, which can destroy the ozone layer, exposing life on Earth to deadly ultraviolet radiation from the Sun.

According to a computer model, a stream of high-energy gamma rays could ionize Earth's atmosphere at a distance of 16 light-years, and direct exposure to these rays could be dangerous from a distance of 13 light-years. However, the greatest threat comes from the shock wave, which, when colliding with interstellar gas and dust, can heat them to such an extent that intense cosmic rays can vaporize the Earth's atmosphere. This scenario is possible if the kilonova is up to 40 light-years away.

Scientists point out several key aspects related to the threat of kilonovae. First, X-rays and gamma rays that reach the Earth's surface can significantly damage the ozone layer, causing the biosphere to lose protection from the sun's harmful ultraviolet radiation. This, in turn, could lead to mass extinctions. Additionally, this radiation can react with nitrogen and oxygen in the atmosphere to form nitrates, which destroy ozone in catalytic reactions.

Despite these threats, according to the study, the closest known neutron stars are more than 400 light-years away from Earth, which significantly reduces the likelihood of such an event occurring in the near future. Additionally, thanks to observations with the James Webb Space Telescope, scientists were able to detect a kilonova, allowing for a more detailed understanding of these phenomena, including the discovery that they can produce tellurium, an element relatively rare on Earth.

Regardless of the rarity of such events, the research highlights the importance of monitoring space to detect potential threats early and understand their impact on our planet. At the same time, they emphasize the enormous power and influence that cosmic processes can have on life on Earth.