The Mysterious Behavior of Betelgeuse: Is Its Final Countdown Approaching?

Betelgeuse, a variable star, has shown unexpected behaviour with a great dimming in 2019 and 2020 followed by an extreme brightening in 2021. While a supernova explosion is unlikely, astronomers are excited about the mysteries surrounding the star. If it were to go supernova, it would first emit harmless neutrinos followed by a brightening that would last for several months. While cosmic rays and radioactive iron could be produced, they would not pose a major threat to life on Earth unless the supernova were to occur within 30 light years.