Close Call: Ancient Supernova Nearly Wiped Out Our Solar System

New research suggests that a nearby supernova explosion around 4 billion years ago could have destroyed our solar system if not for a shield of molecular gas. Scientists studying isotopes in meteorite samples found varying concentrations of a radioactive isotope of aluminum, indicating an injection of radioactive material from a nearby supernova blast. The dense filament of molecular gas surrounding the infant solar system likely acted as a buffer, protecting it from the supernova shockwave. The findings have implications for understanding the formation and evolution of stars and their planetary systems.