Supernova radiation may havewiped our Megalodon from Earth
- 6 years ago
US — An exploding star may have wiped out the megalodon.
New research sheds some light as to why and how the megalodon disappeared from the face of the Earth.
The prehistoric shark is the largest fish ever recorded. According to the Natural History Museum of London, it could measure over 18 meters in length.
The largest megalodon tooth found measures 17.8 centimeters in length, three times the size of a great white shark tooth.
According to a research by the University of Zurich published in the journal PLOSONE, megalodons went extinct roughly 2.6 million years ago.
A new paper by researchers from the University of Kansas, Federal University of Sao Carlos and Federal University of ABC proposes that ancient large marine animals may have become extinct due to exposure to cosmic radiation from nearby supernovae.
Prehistoric seabed deposits contain high concentration of ion 60-isotopes, which come from supernovae explosions.
Although the isotope is harmless, it comes with other particles called muons. These particles can interact with cells of living organisms causing mutations and cancer.
Researchers believe the megalodon's large size and tendency to inhabit shallow waters made it more susceptible to exposure to the supernova cosmic rays.
Its extinction coincides with the detection of one or more supernovae occurring around 2.6 million years ago.
Other research on the subject suggests the giant shark went extinct due to lack of prey and increased predatory competition.
So if you want to see a Megalodon up close and personal try your luck at a museum, or watch Jason Statham battle one on the silver screen. Whatever rocks your boat.
New research sheds some light as to why and how the megalodon disappeared from the face of the Earth.
The prehistoric shark is the largest fish ever recorded. According to the Natural History Museum of London, it could measure over 18 meters in length.
The largest megalodon tooth found measures 17.8 centimeters in length, three times the size of a great white shark tooth.
According to a research by the University of Zurich published in the journal PLOSONE, megalodons went extinct roughly 2.6 million years ago.
A new paper by researchers from the University of Kansas, Federal University of Sao Carlos and Federal University of ABC proposes that ancient large marine animals may have become extinct due to exposure to cosmic radiation from nearby supernovae.
Prehistoric seabed deposits contain high concentration of ion 60-isotopes, which come from supernovae explosions.
Although the isotope is harmless, it comes with other particles called muons. These particles can interact with cells of living organisms causing mutations and cancer.
Researchers believe the megalodon's large size and tendency to inhabit shallow waters made it more susceptible to exposure to the supernova cosmic rays.
Its extinction coincides with the detection of one or more supernovae occurring around 2.6 million years ago.
Other research on the subject suggests the giant shark went extinct due to lack of prey and increased predatory competition.
So if you want to see a Megalodon up close and personal try your luck at a museum, or watch Jason Statham battle one on the silver screen. Whatever rocks your boat.