Brightest Galactic Flash Ever Detected Hits Earth

[IGBT]

Text

Had this happened within 10 light-years of us, it would have severely damaged our atmosphere and possibly have triggered a mass extinction," said Bryan Gaensler of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics (CfA).


Had this happened within 10 light-years of us, it would have severely damaged our atmosphere and possibly have triggered a mass extinction," said Bryan Gaensler of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics (CfA).
...clear evidence that planet earth is effected by forces outside our sphere of influence. And to think we can control everything that effects the earth or are responsible for all effects is offensively exaggerating human importance in the universe ie.human induced global warming.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

Even at 8k lightyears this is too close for my tastes

 

[3chordcharlie]

Still, scientists were surprised that a magnetar so far away could alter the ionosphere.

On a related note, Star Trek used to employ someone who's only job was to make up techie-words 😀

 

[DealMonkey]

So that's what that bright flash of light was! 😀

 

[IGBT]

..that's an amazing pic of a super nova..all we have to do is look how pock marked the earth's moon is to realize calamity is part of our past and could revisit us any time.

 

[StormRider]

Maybe that's one of the reasons we haven't seen any signs of intelligent life yet -- they were wiped out by that explosion.

Also, that thing emitted gamma rays -- that means someday we will start seeing super heroes like The Hulk roaming around here.

 

[TheBDB]

Originally posted by: WinstonSmith
Even at 8k lightyears this is too close for my tastes

Awesome picture

 

[Crimson]

Originally posted by: IGBT
Text

Had this happened within 10 light-years of us, it would have severely damaged our atmosphere and possibly have triggered a mass extinction," said Bryan Gaensler of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics (CfA).


Had this happened within 10 light-years of us, it would have severely damaged our atmosphere and possibly have triggered a mass extinction," said Bryan Gaensler of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics (CfA).
...clear evidence that planet earth is effected by forces outside our sphere of influence. And to think we can control everything that effects the earth or are responsible for all effects is offensively exaggerating human importance in the universe ie.human induced global warming.

But I thought only humans could be the possible explanation for destroying our atmosphere? Surely if it would take something THIS huge to trigger it, my Mitsubishi isn't causing the same thing? LOL.

 

[sMiLeYz]

Originally posted by: Crimson

Originally posted by: IGBT
Text

Had this happened within 10 light-years of us, it would have severely damaged our atmosphere and possibly have triggered a mass extinction," said Bryan Gaensler of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics (CfA).


Had this happened within 10 light-years of us, it would have severely damaged our atmosphere and possibly have triggered a mass extinction," said Bryan Gaensler of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics (CfA).
...clear evidence that planet earth is effected by forces outside our sphere of influence. And to think we can control everything that effects the earth or are responsible for all effects is offensively exaggerating human importance in the universe ie.human induced global warming.

But I thought only humans could be the possible explanation for destroying our atmosphere? Surely if it would take something THIS huge to trigger it, my Mitsubishi isn't causing the same thing? LOL.

no one ever said humans are the only ones that can destroy our atmosphere.

 

[judasmachine]

who is going to stop the terrorists from stealing a magnetar?

seriously though, life is fragile, and this makes our problems pale in comparison.

 

[dahunan]

Originally posted by: judasmachine
who is going to stop the terrorists from stealing a magnetar?

seriously though, life is fragile, and this makes our problems pale in comparison.

I just wish the whole word would realize that ^^ 🙁

 

[Proletariat]

Originally posted by: IGBT
Text

Had this happened within 10 light-years of us, it would have severely damaged our atmosphere and possibly have triggered a mass extinction," said Bryan Gaensler of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics (CfA).


Had this happened within 10 light-years of us, it would have severely damaged our atmosphere and possibly have triggered a mass extinction," said Bryan Gaensler of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics (CfA).
...clear evidence that planet earth is effected by forces outside our sphere of influence. And to think we can control everything that effects the earth or are responsible for all effects is offensively exaggerating human importance in the universe ie.human induced global warming.

Wow, nice dig hidden in some interesting information there.

Ah yes, we are an insignificant speck of absolutely nothing in the unfathomable scope of the universe. BUT, but what exactly does a supernova have to do with us harming this slightly bigger speck we live on? A super-explosion doesn't have any bearing on what our species can and cannot do to our small little piece of reality called Earth.

 

[cquark]

Originally posted by: Crimson

Originally posted by: IGBT
Text

Had this happened within 10 light-years of us, it would have severely damaged our atmosphere and possibly have triggered a mass extinction," said Bryan Gaensler of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics (CfA).


Had this happened within 10 light-years of us, it would have severely damaged our atmosphere and possibly have triggered a mass extinction," said Bryan Gaensler of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics (CfA).
...clear evidence that planet earth is effected by forces outside our sphere of influence. And to think we can control everything that effects the earth or are responsible for all effects is offensively exaggerating human importance in the universe ie.human induced global warming.

But I thought only humans could be the possible explanation for destroying our atmosphere? Surely if it would take something THIS huge to trigger it, my Mitsubishi isn't causing the same thing? LOL.

By that reasoning since a thermonuclear bomb could kill a person, then it's clear that a bullet couldn't since the thermonuclear bomb is so huge and powerful compared to the bullet.

 

[shira]

The quality of the reporting leaves something to be desired:

"The star, named SGR 1806-20, spins once on its axis every 7.5 seconds, and it is surrounded by a magnetic field more powerful than any other object in the universe."

No scientist would ever make that statement. Perhaps what was actually said was, ". . . it is surrounded by a magnetic field more powerful than that of any other known object in our galaxy."