.: Importance In Astronomy

           Gamma ray bursts are some of the most brilliant spectacles that can be seen today. Scientists continue to document and study these bursts to learn where they originated from as well as their durations. An important cause for such studies on gamma ray bursts stems from the potential destruction they can create. If the certain condition were met, such as a gamma ray burst being in a vicinity to earth less than 3,000 light years away and the beam directly hitting Earth, the consequences would be massive. The beam hitting Earth would cause irreversible damage to the atmosphere including wiping out the majority of the ozone layer. Scientist believe such a direct interaction with a beam from a gamma ray burst would cause mass extinction here on Earth due to the destroyed food supply as well as the deteriorated atmosphere. These studies are done because of efforts to explain mass extinction on Earth that has occurred as well as the probability of extra-terrestrial life.