is it possible that an event such as a star going supernova could wipe out the human race?

Question: is it possible that an event such as a star going supernova could wipe out the human race?
- Keywords:
  end of the world,
  space,
  star,
  supernova
Asked by tom73 to Asif, Laura, Lena, Sean, Viv on 13 Mar 2012.
- Sean Murphy answered on 13 Mar 2012:
  
  Our sun is too small to go supernova. Instead, when it runs out of fuel (hydrogen) it will go through a red giant phase. It will expand in size, extending out beyond the orbit of Mercury and Venus. Earth will be vaporised in the intense heat. This won’t happen for about another 5 billion years, so hopefully (if we’re still around) we can travel to other solar systems to survive.
- Laura Waters answered on 13 Mar 2012:
  
  Not something I’d worry about, lots of other possible diasasters could kill us all too but unlikely!
- Lena Ciric answered on 13 Mar 2012:
  
  I’m not an expert on this bit I’ve done a bit of reading.
  
  It all depends on how far away the supernova was. It may not kill us by the explosion but merely bathe the planet in radiation which could destroy the ozone layer. There are two nearby stars (other than the Sun) – T Pyxidis and Betelgeuse. However, they’d have to be 50 light years away to cause us any harm. T Pyxidis is 3200 light years away and Betelgeuse is 430 light years away.
  
  Check out this link: http://earthsky.org/space/will-a-nearby-supernova-harm-life-on-earth-in-2012-nah

Question: is it possible that an event such as a star going supernova could wipe out the human race?