Wormholes are shortcuts in spacetime, popular with science fiction authors and movie directors. They've never been seen, but according to Einstein's general theory of relativity, they might exist.
Albert Einstein's general theory of relativity, formulated in 1915, predicted the existence of an expanding Universe, of black holes, and of gravitational waves. In each case, physicists originally believed that these predictions were just mathematical curiosities. But over the past century, each prediction has been confirmed. Could the same be true for wormholes - shortcut connections between two widely separated points in spacetime? They, too, are a possible outcome of Einstein's theory. However, no one has ever observed a wormhole, let alone passed through one. Except in science fiction movies, of course.
Think about it: a secret door in your room that takes you in one step to your favourite holiday destination. Physicists think that such wormholes might actually exist. Where would you like to go?
If a supernova explosion were to occur within about 25 light-years of Earth, our planet would probably lose its atmosphere, and all life would perish. However, astronomers haven't found any dangerous supernova candidates in our cosmic backyard, so there's no reason to worry.
Fulldome show “Europe to the Stars” takes the viewer on an epic journey behind the scenes at the most productive ground-based observatory in the world, revealing the science, the history, the technology and the people.
The Milky Way's a big galaxy, too—120,000 light-years across—and there's roughly one supernova within it every few decades. The chance of one being so close to Earth to put some hurt on us is small—but, irritatingly, not zero.
Gaia-BH3 is located just 2,000 light years from Earth, making it the second-closest black hole to our planet ever discovered. The closest black hole to Earth is Gaia-BH1 (also discovered by Gaia), which is 1,560 light-years away.
A supernova especially close to Earth, at 65 lightyears, Thomas and Yelland calculate that the flood of cosmic rays would surge to around 200 times higher than normal. This would have dire consequences for the planet, with at least 30% of the ozone layer destroyed around the planet, and as much as 87% in polar regions.
And the supernova doesn't have to be so close to us for its cosmic rays to be deadly—within 30 to 50 light years to trigger a mass extinction, depending on the local interstellar medium and the supernova type. This is the real kill-zone for a supernova. But they can still be dangerous from further out.
Supernovae are one of the most energetic explosions in nature, equivalent to the power in a 1028 megaton bomb (i.e., a few octillion nuclear warheads).
Supernovas are one of the most violent explosions in the universe. For a brief period of time, a single supernova can be brighter than an entire galaxy, emitting as much energy in a short time period as our sun will emit in its whole lifetime.
Introduction: My name is Merrill Bechtelar CPA, I am a clean, agreeable, glorious, magnificent, witty, enchanting, comfortable person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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