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Article: Radiation may affect planetary evolution. (Universe).
- Article from:
- USA TODAY
- Article date:
- June 1, 2003
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2003 Society for the Advancement of Education. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Jolts of radiation from space may affect biological and atmospheric evolution on planets in the solar system and those orbiting other stars, according to calculations by a team of astronomers at The University of Texas at Austin. Bursts of radiation that can cause biological mutations, or even deliver lethal doses, can come from flares given off by the planet's parent star or from more-remote cosmic events (e.g., supernovae and gamma-ray bursts). The magnitude of the effect on life and evolution on a planet is related to how much protection the planet gets from its atmosphere. The researchers focused on the transmission of high-energy X-rays and gamma rays through ...