If the source is close enough, or powerful enough if far-away but beamed directly at us, the effects can be terminal for humanity and most other species. Mass extinctions, essentially a sterilization of all surface life. Only the ocean depths and underground life would be spared. Here's a very brief but informative write-up on GRBs: http://space.about.com/od/deepspace/a/Could-A-Gamma-Ray-Burst-Destroy-Life-O... If the burst were short enough, perhaps only all life on the side of earth facing the burst would be wiped-out. Those on the other side might be spared, to face the environmental damage. The first to die might be the lucky ones. With that cheerful thought, Happy Monday! On Sun, Apr 28, 2013 at 11:30 PM, Patrick Wiggins <paw@wirelessbeehive.com>wrote:
I guess we should be thankful the source was so far away. From what I understand if a nearby source were to hit us with such a beam it would wreak havoc with Earth's ecosystem.