  A sudden steepening of the cosmic-ray energy spectrum (the knee) is observed
at an energy of about 3 PeV (1 PeV = 10$^{15}$eV). The recent results on
extensive air showers allow us to conclude that: a) the knee has an
astrophysical origin; b) the 'sharpness' and the fine structure of the knee
rule out 'Galactic Modulation' as the origin of the knee; c) most likely the
knee is the result of the explosion of a single, recent, nearby supernova.
