What would happen if a gamma ray burst hit the Earth?
A 2016 study looked at the potential effects of one of these powerful blasts washing over Earth.
Thankfully, these powerful events are typically seen in distant galaxies too far away to affect our planet.
But should a GRB erupt close enough to Earth, the effects on the planet’s atmosphere could potentially be catastrophic.
According to a paper titled Ground-Level Ozone Following Astrophysical Ionizing Radiation Events – An Additional Biological Hazard?, a GRB washing over Earth could completely strip Earth of its atmosphere.
Without an atmosphere, Ultraviolet or YV radiation from the Sun would be free to reach the ground unopposed.
