New Theory Links Biodiversity to the Stars 184
eldavojohn writes "Space.com's Mystery Monday has an article proposing a hypothesis that our solar system's undulations directly affects biodiversity on earth through cosmic-ray exposure. There's data that, through the fossil record, shows us earth's biodiversity peaking again and again until a great cataclysmic period where it is greatly reduced. The theory essentially suggests that this 62 million year cycle can be attributed to how our solar system moves within the milky way galaxy which turns out to be a 64 million year cycle. It's a plausible explanation though very tough to prove, hopefully we don't have to wait around 64 million years to draw a conclusion on this hypothesis."
542 Million year chart (Score:5, Funny)
hopefully? (Score:4, Funny)
hopefully we don't have to wait around 64 million (Score:4, Funny)
I'll wait.
Apocalypse Later. (Score:5, Funny)
There's data that, through the fossil record, shows us earth's biodiversity peaking again and again until a great cataclysmic period where it is greatly reduced [...] hopefully we don't have to wait around 64 million years to draw a conclusion on this hypothesis.
Personally, I hope we do have to wait that long. :-)
Re:542 Million year chart (Score:3, Funny)
Yes.
Cool (Score:3, Funny)
Re:So when is this doomsday supposed to be? (Score:3, Funny)
Any chance of it happening before I'm forced to go to my cousin's wedding? Cuz that's going to be a real waste of time.
Re:hopefully? (Score:5, Funny)
Cyclic minima (Score:3, Funny)
Re:What? (Score:5, Funny)
Yes. Can I have your stereo?
Re:542 Million year chart (Score:4, Funny)
Re:So when is this doomsday supposed to be? (Score:5, Funny)
Do you think I still have time to start going to church, or should I just forget about it and sin like crazy?
Re:What? (Score:2, Funny)
Re:So when is this doomsday supposed to be? (Score:5, Funny)
Rats.
Fantastic Four! (Score:3, Funny)
I need to become a superhero if I am to have a chance in hell with Sue Storm...uh I mean Jessica Alba.
Preferably I would like super strength and the power to know women's thoughts -- could come in handy! ;)
I blame global warming (Score:5, Funny)
Can we launch a few nukes at a nearby Asteroid? Oh, that's for stopping the apocolyptic end-of-the-world asteroid collision.
What can *I do* to help stop this 64 million year cycle? There must be something I should worry about here. I'll buy some solar panels. Doh! That's for global warming again...
Re:Less than 64M years (Score:4, Funny)
31.4159265 Million years, anything else is not Geeky enough.
Re:So when is this doomsday supposed to be? (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Cool (Score:5, Funny)
Slashdot needs a -1 disturbing modifier.
God made sheep soft so we could shave them naked first.
I'll do it. (Score:2, Funny)
I volunteer to conduct the research. I'll just need a small yearly grant for 64 million years.
Re:I blame global warming (Score:4, Funny)
Re:I blame global warming (Score:3, Funny)
Launch rockets. Just launch as much stuff as you can in the direction of motion of the Sun. That way there will be a net thrust on the Earth (and consequently the solar system through gravity) that will eventually slow down its orbit. Of course we'd end up falling into the big black hole at the center of the Galaxy as a result. But c'est la vie, you can't always get everything you want.
Re:Apocalypse Later. (Score:1, Funny)
Re:Fantastic Four! (Score:3, Funny)
He had the ability to stretch any part of his body to great lengths (heh, heh, heh,)and after sex,
she would disappear...
Re:So when is this doomsday supposed to be? (Score:4, Funny)
Re:What? (Score:2, Funny)
I can't wait to play Duke Nukem
Re:hopefully? (Score:3, Funny)
*taps his tinfoil hat*