The discussion revolves around the potential threat posed by a star, specifically in the context of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) and their implications for Earth. Participants express skepticism regarding media portrayals of scientific risks and debate the speculative nature of the claims made in the article.
Participants generally agree that the claims about the threat are speculative and that media portrayals may be alarmist. However, there are differing views on the likelihood of a GRB occurring and its potential impact on Earth.
Participants highlight the speculative nature of the discussion and the lack of observed GRBs in nearby galaxies, which may influence their assessments of risk.
mathman said:Reading it through, it seems that the possibility of a real danger is highly speculative.
Agreed. I used my good friend Google and found http://www.usyd.edu.au/news/84.html?newsstoryid=2181".As for the actual article itself, it's definitely possible, http://www.nasa.gov/vision/universe/starsgalaxies/gammaray_extinction.html" seem to think so.. but I think we have 500 million years or so to plan for it..engineroom said:...I am somewhat sceptical of anything of a technical or scientific field that I read in the mass media...