by BDanielMayfield » Tue Jun 06, 2017 1:53 pm
Nice discovery. I say this because, whenever something new comes out in astronomy, I like to view the observation, finding or theory in terms of what it might mean for the prospects of life in the universe.
In the beginning, the Big Bang produced only the lightest elements; H, He, Li and a trace of Be. All other elements needed for life like C, O, N, Fe and every other naturally occurring element was and are being fused inside stars and in the enormously energetic explosions of supernovae. Without these SN blasts, the elements required for life would never make it out into space where they can later condense into planets like Earth.
So SN have had a vital role to play in making the universe habitable. They have done their work so well that now, the mid planes of spiral galaxies like ours are darkened by interstellar dust made of all the elements needed to produce rocky planets like ours. But, viewed from the life positive viewpoint, enough already with the SN please. Life prospects in starburst galaxies currently undergoing frequent SN detonations would have to be tougher due to higher odds of your planet being sterilized by a nearby SN. And indeed, the SN rate has happily for us fallen off greatly over the billions of years since our galaxy formed.
Therefore, if the number of SN is reduced by a process that causes some to be snuffed out by direct collapse into massive Black Holes, it is a good thing for life in general in the universe, imo.
Bruce
Nice discovery. I say this because, whenever something new comes out in astronomy, I like to view the observation, finding or theory in terms of what it might mean for the prospects of life in the universe.
In the beginning, the Big Bang produced only the lightest elements; H, He, Li and a trace of Be. All other elements needed for life like C, O, N, Fe and every other naturally occurring element was and are being fused inside stars and in the enormously energetic explosions of supernovae. Without these SN blasts, the elements required for life would never make it out into space where they can later condense into planets like Earth.
So SN have had a vital role to play in making the universe habitable. They have done their work so well that now, the mid planes of spiral galaxies like ours are darkened by interstellar dust made of all the elements needed to produce rocky planets like ours. But, viewed from the life positive viewpoint, enough already with the SN please. Life prospects in starburst galaxies currently undergoing frequent SN detonations would have to be tougher due to higher odds of your planet being sterilized by a nearby SN. And indeed, the SN rate has happily for us fallen off greatly over the billions of years since our galaxy formed.
Therefore, if the number of SN is reduced by a process that causes some to be snuffed out by direct collapse into massive Black Holes, it is a good thing for life in general in the universe, imo.
Bruce