That is the nightmare scenario of course, and may eventually come true. 'Eventually' being the optimal world. We have no idea when. Do not be to concerned though, there are many other astronomical phenomenon that will probably destroy earth first.
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/2795981/Supernova-may-wipe-out-the-Earth.html
"A STAR primed to explode in a blast that could wipe out the Earth was revealed by astronomers yesterday.
It will self-destruct in an explosion called a supernova with the force of 20 billion billion billion megatons of TNT.
New studies show the star, called T Pyxidis, is much closer than previously thought at 3,260 light-years away - a short hop in galactic terms.
So the blast from the thermonuclear explosion could strip away our ozone layer that keeps out deadly space radiation. Life on Earth would then be frazzled."
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
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Except it WON'T become true. To be capable of wiping out life on Earth as described in the tabloid press, a Type I supernova would need to be much, much closer; maybe as much as ten time closer that this star, even at its "corrected" distance. IOW, don't believe everything you read in the _New York Daily News_ and _The Telegraph_. LOL
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