Scientists say a supernova explosion close to Earth could be to blame for two extinction events. The post Supernova study suggests space blasts wiped out ancient life on Earth appeared first on Talker.

At least two mass extinction events in Earth's history were likely caused by the "devastating" effects of nearby supernova explosions, a new study suggests.

Exploding stars known as supernovas may have sparked mass extinctions that wiped out up to 85% of animals on Earth. ‘Supernova explosions are some of the most energetic explosions in the Universe’, said Dr Nick Wright,

Exploding stars in near-solar space may have triggered at least two mass extinction events in Earth's history. An analysis of the frequency of supernova explosions in the Milky Way, led by astrophysicist Alexis Quintana of the University of Alicante in Spain,

The rate of stars going supernova near Earth appears to match two mass extinctions -- 372 million years ago and 445 million years ago.