Gamma-Ray Burst from Distant Galaxy Causes Significant Disturbance in Earth's Ionosphere

Strongest Gamma-Ray Burst Ever Detected Impacts Earth's Atmosphere, Triggers Lightning Detectors in India

A gamma-ray burst (GRB) from a supernova explosion in a galaxy almost two billion light-years away caused a significant disturbance in Earth's ionosphere, a layer of the planet's upper atmosphere that contains electrically charged gases called plasma.
The gamma rays from the burst impacted Earth's atmosphere for a span of about 13 minutes and caused a strong variation in the ionosphere's electric field.
The gamma-ray burst was detected by the European Space Agency's Integral (International Gamma-Ray Astrophysics Laboratory) space observatory and various satellites orbiting close to Earth.
Instruments on Earth showed that the gamma rays disturbed the ionosphere for several hours and even set off lightning detectors in India.
While this gamma-ray burst did not cause deleterious effects for life on Earth, it has been hypothesized that a strong one originating within the Milky Way and pointed right at us could pose a danger - including mass extinctions - by subjecting Earth's surface to a flood of harmful ultraviolet radiation.