Prehistoric Supernovae Explosions May Have Contributed To Mini Mass Extinction On Earth
- 8 years ago
New research suggests that supernovae explosions that occurred millions of years ago and 300 light years away may have had a significant impact on Earth.
In April, scientists presented compelling evidence that millions of years ago and 300 light years away, two supernovae explosions occurred.
Now, a related research endeavor conducted by an international team suggests that despite the great distance of the dramatic events, cosmic radiation produced by them may have had a significant impact on Earth.
The doses experienced by our planet’s living creatures were likely enough to speed up the mutations of cancer cells and could explain a mass extinction, albeit a minor one, that occurred roughly 2 ½ million years ago.
Radiation lingering in the environment may have also greatly influenced climate change.
Said one of the study’s authors, “…around this time Africa dried out, and a lot of the forest turned into savannah. Around this time and afterwards, we started having glaciations — ice ages — over and over again, and it’s not clear why that started to happen. It’s controversial, but maybe cosmic rays had something to do with it.”
In April, scientists presented compelling evidence that millions of years ago and 300 light years away, two supernovae explosions occurred.
Now, a related research endeavor conducted by an international team suggests that despite the great distance of the dramatic events, cosmic radiation produced by them may have had a significant impact on Earth.
The doses experienced by our planet’s living creatures were likely enough to speed up the mutations of cancer cells and could explain a mass extinction, albeit a minor one, that occurred roughly 2 ½ million years ago.
Radiation lingering in the environment may have also greatly influenced climate change.
Said one of the study’s authors, “…around this time Africa dried out, and a lot of the forest turned into savannah. Around this time and afterwards, we started having glaciations — ice ages — over and over again, and it’s not clear why that started to happen. It’s controversial, but maybe cosmic rays had something to do with it.”