When was the last gamma-ray burst hit Earth?
A gamma ray burst, the most powerful explosion known in the Universe, may have hit the Earth in the 8th Century. In 2012 researchers found evidence that our planet had been struck by a blast of radiation during the Middle Ages, but there was debate over what kind of cosmic event could have caused this.
Who discovered the gamma-ray burst?
The Vela-5A/B Satellite in its cleanroom. The two satellites, A and B, were separated after launch. Scientists Roy Olen and Ray Klebesadel, assigned with watching the data brought in by these satellites, finally got the first positive signal of a gamma-ray pulse on July 2, 1967.
What would a gamma-ray burst do to a human?
The gamma radiation from a burst within a few kiloparsecs would quickly deplete much of the Earth’s protective ozone layer, allowing an increase in solar UVB radiation reaching the surface. This radiation is harmful to life, damaging DNA and causing sunburn.
What if a gamma-ray burst hit the Sun?
A GRB would deplete the ozone layer in the upper atmosphere, allowing harmful UV radiation to reach the ground and thus have dire consequences for life. However, the ground-level ozone caused by the GRB would not be an additional hazard for life.
What if a gamma-ray burst hit a black hole?
Gamma radiation is still in the light spectrum, and thus its speed is in fact not bigger than the speed of light. so as the other answer already said, the black hole would simply absorb the radiation and nothing would happen.
What if a gamma-ray burst hit the sun?
Is blazer and quasar the same thing?
Blazars and quasars are both the same thing: active galaxy nuclei. The only difference is that they are oriented at different angles. As SciShow tells us, this means that they can be used to apprise us about different facets of the universe.
What is a gamma-ray burst?
In gamma-ray astronomy, gamma-ray bursts ( GRBs) are extremely energetic explosions that have been observed in distant galaxies. They are the brightest electromagnetic events known to occur in the universe. Bursts can last from ten milliseconds to several hours. After an initial flash of gamma rays,…
When was the error box of the gamma-ray burst?
van Paradijs, J.; et al. (1997). “Transient optical emission from the error box of the gamma-ray burst of 28 February 1997”. Nature. 386 (6626): 686.
What is the GRB 970228 gamma-ray burst?
The breakthrough came in February 1997 when the satellite BeppoSAX detected a gamma-ray burst ( GRB 970228 and when the X-ray camera was pointed towards the direction from which the burst had originated, it detected fading X-ray emission. The William Herschel Telescope identified a fading optical counterpart 20 hours after the burst.
Are there stars that can produce gamma-ray bursts?
The closest analogs within the Milky Way galaxy of the stars producing long gamma-ray bursts are likely the Wolf–Rayet stars, extremely hot and massive stars, which have shed most or all of their hydrogen to radiation pressure. Eta Carinae and WR 104 have been cited as possible future gamma-ray burst progenitors.