Surviving a Supernova: How Our Solar System Beat the Odds

The early Solar System may have been shielded from the destructive effects of a nearby supernova by the gas within the filament where it formed, according to a study by researchers at the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan. Isotopes found in ancient meteorites suggest the presence of short-lived radionuclides (SLRs) that could have been generated by a supernova. However, the high levels of SLRs detected in the meteorites indicate that the gas within the filament likely protected the Solar System from the full impact of the supernova. The study highlights the potential implications for our understanding of stellar system formation and evolution.