Cosmic Radiation: A Supernova’s Deadly Reach

Around 2.6 million years ago, a supernova erupted just 150 light-years from Earth, creating a dazzling display in the sky. But its most significant impact may have occurred years later when a wave of cosmic radiation reached Earth, triggering a marine extinction event. Researchers led by Adrian Melott of the University of Kansas propose that this cosmic catastrophe may have contributed to the disappearance of marine giants, including the Megalodon. Their findings were published in Astrobiology.