00:00when a star explodes it can have drastic consequences for the area of space around it
00:08destroying or altering entire systems and beyond however a supernova in a star system near our
00:14planet may have actually influenced the evolution of life as we know it a new study links an influx
00:19in virus diversity in lake tanganika in africa 2.5 million years ago to the cosmic radiation from
00:25an ancient supernova radiation is a known driver of evolution causing mutations that can accelerate
00:30genetic changes iron 60 is a radioactive isotope that has been linked to supernovae and researchers
00:36discovered two spikes in the isotope in seafloor sediments one of those occurred 1.5 to 3.2
00:42million years ago with the researchers ultimately linking that to two supernovae that occurred during
00:47that time period further simulations indicate that earth was bombarded with cosmic radiation
00:51for 100 000 years following those explosions with the researchers concluding that would be a large
00:56enough dose to not only cause an evolutionary impact on the organisms on our planet but it could even be
01:01enough radiation to damage dna with experts saying that dna breakage can occur at just five milligrays
01:07per year with the supernova inundating life on earth with 30 to 100 milligrays annually
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