A groundbreaking study from Germany suggests that Earth may have been exposed to the debris of a nearby supernova about 10 million years ago. Researchers found evidence hidden in ancient deep-sea sediments.
Scientists discovered a spike in the radioactive isotope beryllium-10 in sediment cores from the Late Miocene epoch. Normally, beryllium-10 forms steadily when cosmic rays hit the atmosphere. However, this unusual accumulation points to a dramatic, singular event, possibly the fallout from a supernova relatively close to our solar system.
To test the theory, the team traced the movements of the Sun and 2,725 nearby star clusters over the past 20 million years using data from the European Space Agency’s Gaia observatory. Their models indicated a 68% chance that a star exploded within 326 light-years of the Sun around the time of the beryllium-10 spike. Nineteen star clusters showed a significant likelihood of hosting such a cosmic event.
Despite the compelling data, researchers caution that the evidence is not yet definitive. The beryllium-10 anomaly has only been found in one ocean, and other expected isotopes from a supernova, like iron-60, are missing in the same layer. Local geological forces, such as shifts in ocean currents, could have caused the isotope concentration, creating a misleading signal.
The scientists now plan a global search to confirm the findings. If a supernova is indeed responsible, similar isotope peaks should appear in sediments worldwide. This discovery could shed light on how cosmic events have subtly influenced Earth’s environment over millions of years.
The study highlights the potential impact of stellar explosions on our planet and the importance of examining ancient geological layers to uncover cosmic history.
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