mathman said:Reading it through, it seems that the possibility of a real danger is highly speculative.
Agreed. I used my good friend Google and found http://www.usyd.edu.au/news/84.html?newsstoryid=2181".As for the actual article itself, it's definitely possible, http://www.nasa.gov/vision/universe/starsgalaxies/gammaray_extinction.html" seem to think so.. but I think we have 500 million years or so to plan for it..engineroom said:...I am somewhat sceptical of anything of a technical or scientific field that I read in the mass media...
Currently, there is no known star that poses a direct threat to Earth. However, there are stars that could potentially become a danger in the distant future.
A star could pose a threat to Earth if it were to explode in a supernova or if it were to pass within a certain distance of our solar system, disrupting the orbits of planets and potentially causing collisions.
The chances of a star posing a direct threat to Earth are extremely slim. Even if a star were to explode in a supernova, it would have to be within a certain distance to cause significant damage to Earth.
There are a few stars that have been identified as potential supernova candidates, such as Betelgeuse and Antares. However, these stars are still at a safe distance from Earth and are not expected to pose a threat in the near future.
Currently, there are no specific measures in place to protect Earth from potential star threats. However, scientists are constantly monitoring the skies for any potential dangers and developing strategies to mitigate any potential risks in the future.