9 Biggest Killers In Space
5. Gamma Ray Bursts
What is it?
Gamma Ray Bursts are amazing occurrences throughout the universe. Originally astrophysicists theorized that the central core of most galaxies were densely packed with star systems. We eventually learned that every galaxy has a Supermassive Black Hole at it's center, and these enormous black holes are blasting galactic sized Gamma Ray Bursts in the form of geysers out into the universe millions of light years in length. Gamma Ray Bursts are also common as a result of Solar Flares, Pulsars, Magnetars, and Supernovae.
These bursts can easily wash away our atmosphere, our ozone, and ionosphere. Leaving us vulnerable from a lack of atmosphere, rather from the microwaves, among other cosmic radiation types, that would cook us without the atmospheres protection. Our upper atmosphere is protected by our electro-magnetic field provided by our molten iron core. Basic physical science folks. What happens to molten iron when its in motion...magnetic fields are created. As long as our core is in rotation, the earth continues to generate this massive magnetic field that shields us. But Gamma Rays can still penetrate if a strong enough burst bombards out planet. This is what you see in the aurora borealis at our planets poles. One of them referred to as "Northern Lights."
As mentioned before, it's likely the moon, that struck and deposited the bulk of Iron found in Earth, is what allowed for a molten spinning core to generate this EM field; protecting us from all kinds of nasty radiation. However, a massive enough Gamma Ray Burst in our vicinity, such as from a Solar Megastorm, could potentially wash away parts of our protective atmosphere, and leave us completely vulnerable.
Is this common? Can I hide under a table to survive?
Gamma Ray Bursts are completely common throughout the Universe. If it wasn't for our EM field and protective atmosphere, we'd be subject to their destructive power. However we have not faced any massive bombardments as there are no Supernovae within 28 light years of Earth. Our own sun is a Yellow Dwarf that is slowly becoming a Red Giant, and will eventually shoot out massive flares that would wash away our EM atmosphere, but that won't happen for billions years.
Has this happened before? Can it happen again?
The sources of most Gamma Ray Bursts of significant magnitude are tens of thousands of light years away from us, and are the brightest sources of light in the universe, inside Supermassive Black Holes. Most of the energy released in a few seconds is more powerful, densely packed with light and energy, than what our sun can deliver in it's entire lifetime (10 billion years). Chances are we'll be gaining massive GRB's like this during the early death throws of our own star far into the future from massive Solar Flares prior to our sun actually growing into a Red Giant.