In a celestial spectacle, telescopes detected a record-breaking gamma-ray burst emanating from a supernova that exploded 1.9 billion light-years away in October 2022. Researchers now reveal that this extraordinary event, considered the brightest gamma-ray burst of all time, temporarily damaged Earth’s ozone layer.
Astronomer Pietro Ubertini from the National Institute of Astrophysics in Rome explained to The New York Times that the ozone was temporarily depleted by the intense burst of high energy. The findings, detailed in a new paper published in Nature Communications, underscore the fragility of Earth’s protective layers.
While the impact on the ozone lasted only a few minutes due to the supernova’s considerable distance, Ubertini warns that if such an event occurred closer to Earth, it could lead to catastrophic consequences. The revelation emphasizes the vulnerability of our planet’s protective mechanisms, particularly the ozone layer, which humans have strived to preserve, even contending with issues like ozone holes caused by activities such as burning fossil fuels.
Simulations of supernovas within the Milky Way further suggest that a gamma-ray burst has the potential to eradicate the stratospheric ozone layer for several years, posing a severe threat to various species and ecosystems, including the human population.
Despite the rarity of cosmic events causing damage to Earth’s ozone from a distance, the incident serves as a reminder of the intricate connection between our planet and celestial occurrences. Fortunately, the transient nature of the damage caused by this remote supernova positions it more as a scientific curiosity than a sustained threat requiring immediate mitigation.
