Supernova Signals in Tree Rings
Can the impact of nearby supernovae be studied by looking at radiocarbon in tree rings?
Supernova in the sky
The stars might seem eternal, but they too have a limited lifespan. Near the end of their lives, stars go through runaway nuclear fusion. They go ‘boom’. This explosion is known as a supernova.
Supernovae can be as bright in the night sky as an entire galaxy. Big boom.
Following the supernova a star collapses into a neutron star or black hole, or is entirely destroyed — the star’s eventual fate depends upon its mass.
As a consequence of the powerful explosion, a supernova blasts away many of the material that once was a star. Supernovae are an important source of many elements in the space between the stars.
Stellar fireworks that imbue the universe with many useful elements, what’s not to like?
The massive amount of radiation might be a bummer, though.
A supernova’s blinding brightness is merely a side-effect of the incredible amount of energy that is released. Much of that energy lies beyond the visible spectrum, including X-rays and gamma rays.
