This post was inspired by today's 5-minute writing prompt in the Freewriters Community - 9 January 2025, @mariannewest's Freewrite Writing Prompt Day 2612: the worst result
Enjoy !
Image by Mikko Koivuneva from Pixabay
Professor Jenkins smiled happily as he addressed his assembled interns.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I have good new and bad news. The good news is that Betelgeuse has brightened again after dimming for the last few years. This means lots more time for observation. The bad news is that we won't have a supernova in our lifetimes at a distance of around 500 light years. Close enough to be interesting but far enough to be safe, and it's a type unlikely to produce a gamma ray burst."
That was the point where Professor Jenkins' colleague, Professor Rattrick, burst into the room.
Without preamble or ceremony, he waved a sheaf of computer printouts at his colleague and blurted out.
"Jenkins, I've just finished the analysis on the observations of IK Pegasi. It wasn't supposed to go supernova for another billion years or so, but some gravitational disturbance nearby caused the transfer of mass from IK Peg A to IK Peg B to increase to a level where the white dwarf companion couldn't absorb the greater mass and velocity."
"Slow down, slow down," Jenkins said firmly as is friend burbled out information in a rush. "What does it actually mean ?"
"It's the worst result. IK Pegasi B has gone prematurely supernova, and taken it's companion with it. It's only 150 light years away, and there's an 87% chance that Earth is in the direct path of the most powerful gamma ray burst we'll have seen for millions of years. It'll strip away the ozone layers and whichever hemisphere it hits will likely be sterilised."