According to Ellis and Schramm (1995), in case of nearby Supernova, UV radiation would destroy the Earth's ozone layer over a period of about 300 years. The recent observations of Geminga, PSR J0437-4715, and SN 1987A strengthen the case for one or more supernova extinctions having taken place during the Phanerozoic era. In this case a nearby supernova explosion would have depleted the ozone layer, exposing both marine and terrestrial organisms to potentially lethal solar ultraviolet radiation. In particular, photosynthesizing organisms including phytoplankton and reef communities would most likely have been badly affected.
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