A composite image of the supernova Cassiopeia A. A similar event may have triggered wildfires and led to ecological changes on Earth millions of years ago. (Credit: NASA)

In one fiery burst, an exploding nearby star millions of years ago may have helped change the course of life on Earth.

Upon its death, this supernova sent high-energy charged particles, called cosmic rays, racing across the universe. Now, a new study says those cosmic rays may have led to an uptick in wildfires across t