Nearby Supernovae Likely Triggered Two Ancient Mass Extinctions

New research links supernova explosions to the Late Ordovician and Devonian extinction events, which devastated Earth's biodiversity millions of years ago.

A study led by astrophysicists suggests that supernova explosions near Earth caused two of the planet's five major mass extinctions.
The Late Ordovician and Late Devonian extinctions, occurring 445 and 372 million years ago respectively, wiped out 60-85% of Earth's species at the time.
Supernovae within 65 light-years of Earth could have depleted the ozone layer, exposing life to harmful ultraviolet radiation and triggering ecological collapse.
The research, based on a census of massive nearby stars, calculated a supernova rate consistent with the timing of these extinction events.
Scientists emphasize that no nearby stars are currently at risk of exploding in the near future, with the closest candidates too far away to impact Earth.