Nearby Supernova Causes Mass Extinction?

hcg50a writes "AP has a story on Yahoo about a theory that a blast of gamma rays from a distant supernova destroyed the earth's ozone layer, allowing normally shielded intense UV radiation from the sun to kill life on earth. The second-largest extinction in the Earth's history, the killing of two-thirds of all species, may have been caused by ultraviolet radiation from the sun after gamma rays destroyed the Earth's ozone layer. Astronomers are proposing that a supernova exploded within 10,000 light years of the Earth, destroying the chemistry of the atmosphere and allowing the sun's ultraviolet rays to cook fragile, unprotected life forms."

Comments

Re: Evolution?

[Black Parrot]

> Could it also be a factor in Evolution? Increased exposure to radiation causing a period of increased mutations in the surviving species?

The opportunities for species to radiate into vacated niches would probably have a much bigger evolutionary impact than the effects of a short-term boost in mutation rates.