The Most Extreme Explosion in the Universe

Summary by Krater

This video explains what would happen to Earth if a supernova hit us from various distances, concluding that we are currently safe from any nearby threat.

From the video

Answers: What would happen if a supernova hit Earth?

• supernova stages
• effects of supernovae on Earth
• ozone layer destruction by radiation
• local bubble creation
• gamma ray bursts and cosmic rays

What it concludes

• Supernovae thousands of light-years away appear as new stars temporarily and do not harm Earth.
• A supernova 300 light-years away creates a noticeable star in the night sky and a weak wave of cosmic rays.
• A supernova 150 light-years away produces magnetic clouds and high-energy radiation that increases cancer and mutation rates.
• A supernova 100 light-years away severely damages the ozone layer and disrupts climate, potentially triggering an ice age.
• A supernova 25 light-years away is within the kill radius, destroying half the ozone layer and wiping out most surface life and ecosystems.
• A supernova 4 light-years away would bake Earth's surface, burn the atmosphere, and cause the largest extinction event in history, leaving only deep sea life and soil organisms.