Following the events of "Return of the Jedi", there has been widespread speculation that the destruction of the second Death Star as seen in the film would cause a radiation spread on the forest moon of Endor's atmosphere and surface, given that the explosion was caused by an attack on its (nuclear) core reactor. The phenomenon has been around supposedly since 1997 following a number of comic book productions on "Star Wars" beyond the original trilogy (of unknown canonicity, although like most other works it has been declared non-canonical and part of the distinct "Star Wars Legends" continuity in 2014) and has been known as "The Endor Holocaust". It came about from a rational analysis in multiple commentaries of the aftermath of the second Death Star's destruction and its hypothetical effects on the forest moon and its living inhabitants. Based on all the information from the stories, it has been concluded that a nuclear fallout would cause radioactive contamination on the surface of the planet (or moon), leading to widespread death and destruction. More recent analysis by physicists has supported the theory from a scientific perspective. Studying and analyzing the second Death Star's destruction, physicists hypothesize its results and consequences. Astrophysicist and "Star Wars" fan Dave Mosher covers the film's events in a 10,000 word essay. His first argument is the Death Star explosion resulting from the rebel attack on its nuclear reactor, the whole space station would be reduced to a large number of fine metallic pieces raining down on Endor. The debris would burn up in Endor's atmosphere turning into toxic soot and spark planetary firestorms. Another scientist, Sarah Stewart, reanalysis the situation and theorizes the moon's previous state after some environmental cleanup from the Death Star's fallout. Matija Cuk, who studies orbital dynamics, theorizes the Death Star's reactor blowing up in one second, sending enormous chunks of debris at about 220,000 miles per hour. He argues the energy carried by the debris would not be sufficient to destroy the moon, but erode the side facing the Death Star. He also argues all ships near the Death Star at the time of its explosion would be destroyed by it. He also adds the rebels witnessing the explosion from the planet's surface would be killed by the radiation released from the explosion even before the debris reaches them. He concludes the debris following the explosion would strike the moon's surface would send rocks on the surface to the far side of the moon. In his analysis, the extinction of the Ewoks is inevitable. Planetary physicist, Erik Asphaug, who also studies giant impacts on moons and planets opposes these theories.