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Name: Edward E. S.
Status: other
Age: old
Location: N/A
Country: N/A
Date: 1999 - 2000
Question:
what is a safe distance to be from a super nova

Replies:
It depends on what you are trying to accomplish. I do not know how far the thermal or ionizing radiation from a supernova would be lethal to a human or damaging to a planet. I do know, however, that much of the material here on earth would not exist unless it had been formed in a supernova. Basically, any element heavier than iron is only formed from tremendously energetic processes like that. Since this includes vital minerals such as zinc and iodine, we wouldn't be alive today if we hadn't been INSIDE a supernova some time in the past.

As Carl Sagan loved to say, "we are the stuff of the stars."

Richard E. Barrans Jr., Ph.D.
Assistant Director
PG Research Foundation, Darien, Illinois


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