[DoctorBeaver (OP)]

I came across this on another forum & I'd like some comments from the experts here as I trust you more. Thanks.

http://www.frihost.com/forums/vt-73610.html

As here, you don't have to join to read the thread.

[daveshorts]

I had a look at the website they were referring to, and as far as I can see it is looking at something which we can see has already exploded. In which case any gamma rays have already got here.  for some reason he is quoting what would happen if all the mass in the object got converted into gamma rays (1 photon for god knows what reason). i have no idea why this would happen.

His possible options for us if something nearby does go supernova is silly - we are unlikely to have the technology to outrun a gamma ray burst if it is leathel at 10 000 light years it will  be pretty bad at 20 000 light years too, we are not going to get away. Better to bury yourself deep in a moon or for that matter the earth and wait it out.

[DoctorBeaver (OP)]

I didn't understand the "1 photon" bit either. I thought maybe I was missing something fundamental.

Better to bury yourself deep in a moon or for that matter the earth and wait it out.

Couldn't I just hide in the coal shed?  []

[Bored chemist]

I vote for hiding behind either the sofa or the planet earth, whichever is easier.
One of the poles is likely to be hidden from the "explosion " by the whole planet. Anyone want to book a rather cold holiday ? (BTW, this wouldn't really help- the damage done to the atmosphere would kill us anyway but it does mean that some life would survive on earth.)

[daveshorts]

Yeah it would probably involve building an underground nuclear powered biosphere to produce you oxygen etc... but you would have to do this if you wanted to build a spaceship anyway.