Terrestrial radiation exposure from supernova-produced radioactivities

Over 1049 erg are released by supernova-produced isotopes, ∼1% of which escapes into space. This can produce a high radiation dose in small bodies of ice or rock. Such radiation may place constraints on the ability of living organisms to be transferred between planets or stellar systems because the mean interval between 'sterilizing' doses is less than the expected transit time. In addition, a significant dose (∼1 Gy) may penetrate the Earth's atmosphere with a mean interval of ∼10 million years