Impending Doom: Neutron Star Collisions Threaten Life on Earth

A collision between two neutron stars, resulting in a kilonova explosion, could pose a threat to life on Earth if it occurs within a certain proximity. The biggest danger comes from cosmic rays, with a fatal proximity of 300 light-years if in the path of the kilonova's gamma-ray burst. However, the likelihood of such an event occurring nearby is low. Understanding these star-shattering events helps assess threats to our existence and the survival of life on other planets.