JAPAN: Scientists have discovered evidence suggesting that our solar system survived a potentially cataclysmic event caused by a nearby supernova explosion during its early formation.
Based on isotopic analysis of meteorites, the findings indicate that a shield of molecular gas surrounding the nascent solar system protected it from the destructive forces of the blast.
Meteorites, remnants of asteroids formed from the same material as our solar system, provided clues about the presence of a radioactive isotope of aluminium.
The researchers observed varying concentrations of this isotope, indicating an additional influx of radioactive material approximately 4.6 billion years ago. The most plausible explanation for this occurrence is the occurrence of a nearby supernova blast.
Supernovae occur when massive stars exhaust their nuclear fuel, leading to gravitational collapse and an explosive release of heavy elements into space.
While these elements serve as building blocks for new stars, the shockwave accompanying a supernova can potentially dismantle neighbouring, developing planetary systems.
The team, led by astrophysicist Doris Arzoumanian from the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, proposed that the cocoon of molecular gas enveloping our young solar system acted as a protective barrier against the supernova shockwave.
This dense filament shielded the forming planets, including Earth, from the harmful radiation emitted by massive stars known as OB stars.
The researchers estimated that the dense filament would have taken approximately 300,000 years to be disrupted by the supernova shockwave.
During this crucial period, larger bodies such as asteroids, which had formed within the protective filament, released meteorites containing radioactive isotopes.
The shield not only shielded the solar system from radiation but also potentially facilitated the transport of radioactive isotopes into the vicinity of the young sun.
This discovery has significant implications for understanding the formation and evolution of stars and planetary systems.
The protective role of the filament in shielding the developing solar system from far-ultraviolet radiation may have influenced the size and composition of the protostellar disk, consequently impacting planet formation.
The research, published in the Astrophysical Journal Letters in April, highlights the importance of cosmic shields in safeguarding nascent planetary systems from the destructive forces of nearby supernova explosions.
By unravelling the mechanisms that enable the survival and development of solar systems, scientists gain valuable insights into the fundamental processes that shape our universe.
Also Read: The Threat of Supernova-Generated X-rays to Planets, including Earth
