Supernovae Struck the Earth 3 Million and 7 Million Years Ago

Although there weren't astronomers around millions of years ago, researchers have gathered evidence that powerful supernovae detonated close to the Solar System 3 million and 7 million years ago. In the geologic record, they discovered these explosions in the fallout from iron-60, an isotype of iron produced when the largest stars detonate. The more recent one could have been as close as 160 light-years away, while the older one was about 350 light-years distant. For comparison, the closest supernova remnant we can see - the Gum Nebula, is a giant sphere starting at 450 light-years away.

#supernovae

http://arxiv.org/abs/2309.11604