In June 2000, shortly after being knighted, Arthur C Clarke said:

“Some of the greatest threats to mankind’s future, are global warming, pollution, gamma ray bursts and the threat of an asteroid hitting the earth.

…Gamma ray bursts are sudden outbursts of energy – several times more powerful than the sun – which may suddenly occur,” he elucidated.

“If it happens during any of our lifetimes, we have all had it. I think that such a phenomenon may have affected evolution and if it happens again, there is nothing we can do about it.”

7.5 billion years ago, 7.5 billion light years from us, a star exploded.

The light from this gamma ray burst took until last month to be reach Earth. For a couple of hours this explosion was visible to the naked eye, making it the most distant thing a human has ever seen unaided.

Consider the power behind such a burst, to be visible from the other end of the universe. And wonder how much it could harm you if it occured much closer to home.

Full Story