Stars like the Sun remain constant in brightness due to fusion, with the Sun projected to shine steadily for another 5 billion years. However, massive stars dying in supernovae result in brief intense brightness rivaling billions of stars, occurring approximately every 50 years in the universe.
Supernovae release gamma rays and cosmic rays, invisible to the human eye but carrying high energy that can affect life on Earth. Historically, some Milky Way supernovae have been close enough to be recorded, highlighting their potential impact.
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