Starting 10 million years ago, scientists have discovered an unexpected surge in rare atomic particles preserved on the Pacific floor, which may reveal a huge change in Earth’s currents or the consequences of ancient cosmic events. This discovery can be a crucial new tool for dating geological history, just like a time fingerprint marking a specific moment in the Earth’s past.
The discovery centers on Beryllium-10, a radioactive isotope that is when cosmic rays hit Earth’s upper atmosphere. The researchers found that the expected number of such rare isotopes almost doubled in deep-sea samples over a specific time period, challenging current understanding of the geologic history of the earth.
“In about 10 million years, we found almost twice as much as we expected the Beryllium-10,” said Dr. Dominik Koll, a physicist at Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR). “We stumbled upon before Undiscovered exception.”
The team analyzed samples a few kilometers below the Pacific Ocean and found that the mysterious spike was always in multiple locations, not just sampling errors. These samples are from Ferromanganes Crusts – the rock formations gradually accumulate millions of years of iron and manganese and retain records of the Earth’s past.
Two competing theories have emerged to explain this ancient anomaly. The first shows that ocean currents near Antarctica underwent a large-scale reorganization of 10-12 million years ago. “This could have caused uneven distribution on Earth over a period of time due to changes in ocean currents,” Koll explained. “As a result, beryllium 10 could have been particularly concentrated in the Pacific.”
Another explanation is essentially cosmic: Earth may experience increased cosmic radiation from nearby supernovae, or temporarily lose its protective solar shield-Heliosphere after colliding with dense interstellar clouds. Any event could lead to a surge in beryllium 10 production.
The discovery has a meaning beyond the scope of solving ancient mysteries. This anomaly may be a key time marker for dating geological samples, similar to how archaeologists use other isotopes. But while radiocarbon dating is limited to the last 50,000 years, beryllium 10 can help scientists in the past millions of years ago on Earth.
Using highly sensitive accelerator mass spectrometry, the team can detect and measure a single beryllium-10 atom, distinguishing it from other isotopes and molecules. This accuracy is crucial to confirm the existence of an exception.
The team plans to analyze more samples from different ocean locations to determine if the beryllium spike is globally or limited to specific regions. If found worldwide, it will support the theory of origin of the universe. If only in certain regions, this suggests that explanations of ocean currents are more likely.
“Only new measurements can indicate whether beryllium anomalies are caused by changes in ocean currents or are astrophysical reasons,” Koll noted.
The results published in Natural Communications represent potential breakthroughs in the geological date approach. Over a period spanning millions of years, scientists lack reliable time markers to synchronize different geological records. This anomaly beryllium can provide much-needed reference points, helping to align various geological archives and improve our understanding of the planet’s distant past.
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