Exploding stars may have made the earth inhabitable
New research suggests that the explosion of massive stars near the Solar System has heavily influenced the development of life on earth.
A new study suggests that exploding stars near our solar system had an immense influence on life on earth.
The research posits that the self-detonating stars – supernovae – release charged particles called galactic cosmic rays (GCR).
Those rays, said lead author Henrik Svensmark of the Technical University of Denmark, may have had a large impact on the earth's atmosphere, setting the conditions for life.
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According to TG Daily, Svensmark studied geological and astronomical data over 500 million years, finding that the frequency of supernovae is strongly correlated to the conditions for life on earth.
The study said, "Whenever the Sun and its planets have visited regions of enhanced star formation in the Milky Way Galaxy, where exploding stars are most common, life has prospered."
Svensmark said, according to Science Daily, “The biosphere seems to contain a reflection of the sky, in that the evolution of life mirrors the evolution of the Galaxy.”
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According to TG Daily, the research helps to support those who believe in a link between cosmic rays and earth's climate, with supernovae a hugely important factor.
The announcement of the study was posted on the Royal Astronomical Society website.
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