Borealis

Thank you for that post, CraigD, it really made things clearer. :) But then a rogue star (or binary twin) being drawn into a black hole could actually produce a GRB, though not one as powerful as that of a dying star the moment it collapses?

Here's an interesting addition: Let's say the supernova is coming from a rogue star that has passed us at a safe distance, but somewhere on its journey it became entangled with a binary star. Wouldn't that be able to create this exact horror-scenario?

I see. Someone on a different forum told me that such a weak blast of gamma rays should be considered about the same as x-rays when it comes to inanimate objects. So a concrete building wouldn't be blown away, to be concrete (pun definitely intended). So what you're saying is that the lack of ozone would be balanced out by the increase in heat from the now unhindered sunrays?

I've noticed that this is an old thread, and I hope you're doing better these days. Still, I want to give you my two cents' worth. I was clinically depressed from years 11 through 22, with some manic episodes and suicidal stuff that resulted in admittance to a mental asylum. Today I study nursing and work at a mental hospital myself, and even if things aren't perfect, words can't describe how much better I feel. The point is, I've gotten out of that f-ing hellhole called depression, and don't mind sharing my experience. First of all: You're allowed to feel this way. No one can tell you otherwise. You might encounter people who say "I was raped once, so I'm depressed, your problems are nothing compared to mine!" Ignore those people; it's one of the meanest things you can tell someone. You're in pain, and it's not a crime. "I know how you feel!" No, you don't. No one can know just how you feel. Accept it and move on, both of you. Anger is natural. When humans have emotions too complex to cope with, they revert to very simple feelings, like anger. Your rage might very well be an expression of pure sorrow. There are healthy ways to unleash it; I found music and boxing to be very helpful. Other means might be general exercise, art, literature (writing is, as someone already stated, very effective!) Watch those habits! It's not easy for a teenager to keep a good rhythm with sleep and diet. Actually, it's not easy for anyone. But I can tell you this: don't sleep during daytime or afternoons, don't stay up late, and don't sleep too long in the morning, even if it's Sunday. Problems with sleep are one of the most common symptoms of a depression, and worsening of those problems can be downright dangerous. Pills can help, but anything stronger than melatonin is addictive, and I generally won't recommend it. Don't overdo sugars or caffeine either (yeah, Red Bull is awesome, but definitely not healthy...) Don't isolate yourself. Seriously. I've been there, and I know it feels so much better when you're alone, but dude, you'll just be digging yourself deeper in. Force yourself out there. Just a 10-minute walk around town every evening will help. Start small, finish grand. See if you can find a class on how to cope with depressions. My college had those, and it actually helped. When it comes to psychologists, I'm afraid it's often a matter of chemistry, not just their skill. Try seeing someone else, or discuss this with your GP, he might have suggestions. You're young, and help for you should be plenty and free, no matter where you live. Even if shrinks don't work for you, at least you'll be able to talk to someone about your problems, which isn't half bad. As for the distracted part... The only way to truly focus your mental capabilities is to be at peace with yourself. Sounds like something from a cheesy 80's kung-fu-movie, I know, but it's the truth. When you get to know yourself, you'll be more comfortable with who you are and what you know and don't know, and you'll focus better. It's a long process. At the moment you should try different kinds of meditation to calm yourself and increase your focus. Remember, if you fail a task (an exam or whatever), that's not the end of the world. I failed my studies in biochemistry, simply because I was too far down to even show up at the examinations. But as all boxers know: when the world knocks you down, you count to 8, get back up, and finish the fight, stronger than ever. Seriously. It's okay to screw up once in a while, and your close ones should be aware of that. Speaking of, they might be scared if you tell them about these things. That's to be expected. Give them time, and I'm sure they'll support you. That's a start, I guess. Please let us know how you're doing, and if any of this helped. And feel free to PM me if you like. Peace out.

But then again, there isn't (as far as I know) any real distinction between high-frequency x-rays and low-frequency gamma rays ("low" being the obvious pun), and these high-energy radiations wouldn't deliver much additional heat? They would fry our CNS for sure, but inanimate matter should be left unharmed? Then again, I understand that this is a question of intensity. Just to clarify, the scenario I described is highly unlikely, I know, but it's that exact scenario that fascinates me intensely, because humans might actually be around to witness the enormous effects on the atmosphere and climate under those conditions (yes, I'm writing a novel, big surprise..!) Of course, only the near side would see immediate casualties; any blast not strong enough to kill all humans on the near side would never be able to penetrate to the far side of the planet. But such a "weak" blast should leave any inanimate matter unharmed?

Greetings, good people! I have some questions regarding gamma ray bursts that no one seems to be able to answer directly, and I hope that someone here will be able to provide solid answers. The topic is, as you've probably already seen, gamma ray bursts. If we imagine that a moderately powerful burst hit the Earth, killing most humans (but not all), and severely damaging the ozone layer, what would happen to human-made objects? Would gamma radiation destroy buildings, or leave them unharmed? I think we can safely assume that a burst would set off a chain of fires and explosions in electric systems, but would materials like wood and brick be damaged at all by the blast itself? I'm eagerly awaiting your response. :)