Sometimes we do not measure how fragile life on our planet can be. Different events that occur in the universe, in fact in our Solar System, could exterminate human life from the earth from one moment to the next.
Therefore, we are going to list the ones that would be most catastrophic for our existence. The chances of them happening or reaching us are extremely low, but they are. So we can’t ignore them.
- Impact of a large asteroid or comet: An impact of a large space object could generate a massive explosion with devastating consequences. Throughout Earth’s history, there have been significant impact events, such as the one believed to have caused the extinction of the dinosaurs. However, asteroid detection and tracking programs have been put in place to reduce the risk of catastrophic impacts.
- Nearby Supernovae: A supernova is the violent explosion of a massive star at the end of its life cycle. If one of them happened close enough to Earth, it could release an immense amount of radiation, affecting the atmosphere and damaging the ozone layer. Fortunately, there are no massive stars close enough to pose an imminent threat.
- Gamma-ray bursts: Gamma-ray bursts are the most powerful and energetic explosions in the universe. If one of these bursts were to occur close enough to Earth, it could have devastating consequences for life on our planet. However, these events are extremely rare, and again, there are no known gamma-ray bursts that pose an immediate threat.
- Nearby Black Holes: A massive black hole that got close enough to Earth could have negative effects on our planet. The gravitational pull of a black hole could distort planetary orbits and upset the gravitational balance. However, no evidence of black holes close enough to pose a danger has been found.