Supernova explosions may have caused mass extinctions, wiping out up to 85% of animals on Earth, according to a new study.
Supernovas are the most energetic explosions in the universe and if one were to occur close to Earth, it would be devastating for life.
A research team conducted a census of supernovas within the Milky Way and found a correlation between the rate of massive star formation and mass extinction events on Earth.
Supernova explosions can strip the Earth's atmosphere of ozone, exposing the planet to fatal levels of ultraviolet radiation and causing long-lasting damage.