Show HN: IoT device to warn you of a supernova hours before Earth is destroyed

Re:Show HN: IoT device to warn you of a supernova hours befo... by PaulHoule on Wednesday June 15, 2022 @08:58PM (#31761391)

The neutrino signal from this (mostly harmless) event

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SN_1987A

was clear as day. Astronomers run an email list you can subscribe to to know about the next core collapse in or near our galaxy. They are hoping to get a heads up so they can point their telescopes at it as soon as possible.

https://www.nature.com/articles/s42254-020-0221-5

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Re:Show HN: IoT device to warn you of a supernova hours befo... by treeman79 on Wednesday June 15, 2022 @09:39PM (#31761651)

Obligatory death by neutrinos.

https://what-if.xkcd.com/73/

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Re:Show HN: IoT device to warn you of a supernova hours befo... by causality0 on Wednesday June 15, 2022 @11:20PM (#31762158)

I always thought the physics on that one was a little shaky. We know how EM radiation of various frequencies and intensities affects biology but neutrinos are not EM radiation. The paper Munroe cites mentions that it ignores the expected supernova neutrino spectrum and its consequences with regards to biological interaction specifically because the dose is so low at the distance with which the paper is concerned, 1 parsec. In a scenario where one's objective is to calculate the lethal distance, that spectrum is important and may wildly change the results.

It's a fun read but it's bad science.

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Re:Show HN: IoT device to warn you of a supernova hours befo... by ateng on Wednesday June 15, 2022 @11:58PM (#31762329)

While what you said is true, I don’t think anyone has done any research on neutrino’s spectrum impact on human tissue? Partly due to this being nearly impossible to experiment on.

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Re:Show HN: IoT device to warn you of a supernova hours befo... by acallaha on Thursday June 16, 2022 @09:08AM (#31765613)

Here's a question to give you a sense of scale: Which of the following would be brighter, in terms of the amount of energy delivered to your retina:

1. A supernova, seen from as far away as the Sun is from the Earth, or

2. The detonation of a hydrogen bomb pressed against your eyeball?

Applying the physicist rule of thumb suggests that the supernova is brighter. And indeed, it is ... by nine orders of magnitude.

...Sounds like I should buy one of these IoT alarms so that I know to stay away from the window :-)

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Re:Show HN: IoT device to warn you of a supernova hours befo... by ASalazarMX on Thursday June 16, 2022 @12:11PM (#31767718)

You turn your back to it with your eyes closed, and wonder if you'll have enough time to experience seeing from inside before your head vaporizes.

Spoiler: you won't.

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Re:Show HN: IoT device to warn you of a supernova hours befo... by treeman79 on Thursday June 16, 2022 @11:42AM (#31767367)

One of my favorite quotes that makes you realize just how insane space can get.

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Re:Show HN: IoT device to warn you of a supernova hours befo... by _carbyau_ on Wednesday June 15, 2022 @11:15PM (#31762144)

As usual from XKCD, an interesting an entertaining read.

And now I am reading the what-if's from 1... thanks!

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