The fingerprints of stars (Supernovas) that have arrived on Earth could be more than what scientists estimated. During the Global Physics Summit 2025, organized by the American Society of Physics, astronomer Brian Fields, of the University of Illinois, presented his advances in the identification of supernova traces in the oceanic background. As explained, science has managed to locate chemical signatures of these cosmic events, which seem to be present everywhere. “We live in a Cemetery of Supernovas,” said the scientist in presenting the evidence found.
The scenario where the traces of a supernova coincide with the surface of the earth do not necessarily imply a planetary catastrophe. Although the radiation released by the collapse of a star is deadly in a radius of a few light years, over time it loses speed and becomes imperceptible. In addition, the resulting particles continue to travel due to the initial acceleration until they find a planet or a moon to deposit.
Some of this waste have reached the earth. The Fields team has been looking for effective methods to detect them. According to their report presented at the summit, they have managed to identify a radioactive iron version that does not occur naturally on Earth. For researchers, these still active exotic elements are supernova proof close to the planet in recent history.
One of the most recent studies of the astronomer, published in the magazine The Astrophysical Journalsuggests that at least two supernovae occurred near Earth. The first, three million years ago, at a distance between 50 and 65 parsecs (a Parsec equals 3.26 light years). The second, seven million years ago, to 100 parsecs. For this study, the researchers analyzed deep waters sediments and a bit of lunar regolito.
In addition, they have found more exotic samples from unusual events in the universe. In these, radioactive plutonium isotopes were identified, a characteristic signal of a past collision between two neutron stars (Kilonova). This is one of the most energy events in astronomy and responsible for the formation of elements such as gold. The kilonova that produced the plutonium isotopes occurred before the two supernova already studied.
The Fields team raises a hypothesis to explain this “cocktail” of space isotopes on Earth. It is possible that the waste of the Kilonova mixed with the remains of the supernovas and that part of this dust would reach our planet as a kind of “cosmic rain.”
To prove their theory, they need samples of lunar regolite that have not been contaminated or altered. The next expeditions to the natural satellite will bring regolito, and part of this material could be used to look for iron and plutonium isotopes. If they are found, evidence will be added to confirm that both the moon and the earth are deposits of supernovas remains.
It is not the first time that the influence of the supernovas is explored on the evolution of the planet. Recently, articles that analyze their possible relationship with mass extinction events and increases in the evolution of life forms have been published.
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