Earth May Have Been Hit By a Gamma-Ray Burst In 775 AD

The Bad Astronomer writes "Studies of carbon-14 in Japanese trees and beryllium-10 in Antarctic ice indicate the Earth was hit by a big radiation blast in 775 AD. Although very rare, occurring only once every million years or so, the most likely culprit is a gamma-ray burst, a cosmic explosion accompanying the birth of a black hole. While a big solar flare is still in the running, a GRB from merging neutron stars produces the ratio of carbon and beryllium observed, and also can explain why no bright explosion was seen at the time, and no supernova remnant is seen now."

Comments

Re:Umm? How far away would it have been?

[Alex Belits]

1. It depends on the intensity. Obviously being far enough from any source of radiation, you get lower amount of it.
2. You are an idiot.

Re:Umm? How far away would it have been?

[HornWumpus]

What should we call idiots? Go away you fucking care bear.