What energetic threat does Proxima Centauri, as a flare star, periodically unleash?
Answer
Powerful bursts of X-rays and ultraviolet radiation
Proxima Centauri is characterized as a flare star, meaning it periodically ejects intense, powerful bursts of high-energy particles and radiation, specifically X-rays and ultraviolet radiation. These flares are a severe environmental hazard because they can bombard the nearby planet, Proxima b, potentially stripping away its atmosphere over cosmic timescales or sterilizing any life on the surface through intense radiation exposure, creating an environment starkly different from the relatively stable warmth provided by the Sun.
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