Surviving a Nearby Supernova: How Our Infant Solar System Endured

Our solar system may have survived a nearby supernova explosion thanks to a shield of molecular gas. Scientists studying isotopes in meteorites found varying concentrations of a radioactive isotope of aluminum, indicating that around 4.6 billion years ago, our planetary backyard experienced an injection of radioactive material likely caused by a nearby supernova blast. The dense filament of gas in which our solar system formed acted as a buffer, protecting it from the supernova shockwave. This discovery could have important implications for understanding the formation and evolution of stars and their planetary systems.