Research: Ancient Animals Extinct from Exploding Stars

london - Study suggests prehistoric animals extinct due to supernovae explosions near Earth. Research links mass extinctions to star explosions.

Supernovae and Mass Extinctions

Researchers attribute two of Earth's mass extinction events to supernovae explosions. The first extinction occurred 445 million years ago, affecting around 60% of marine invertebrates. The second extinction, 372 million years ago, led to the death of approximately 70% of all species.

Investigating the Cause

Scientists mapped stars and remnants within 65 light-years of Earth to identify potential sources of these extinction events. The timing of star explosions coincided with the mass extinctions.

Future Threats?

While two stars, Antares and Betelgeuse, could explode in the next million years, they are too distant to pose a threat to Earth.