Threat to life! NASA scientists identify new stellar danger to planets
Astronomers using data from NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory and other telescopes have identified a new threat to life on planets like Earth: a period during which intense X-rays from exploded stars can affect planets over 100 light-years away.The finding, published recently in The Astrophysical Journal, has implication for the study of planets outside the solar system and their habitability. This threat comes from a supernova's blast wave striking dense gas surrounding the exploded star. When this impact occurs it can…