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."
Re:Apocalypse Later. (Score:4, Insightful)
If sheeple aren't in the cycle, how do we get them in?
Re:I knew it! (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:I knew it! (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:I blame global warming (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:So when is this doomsday supposed to be? (Score:4, Insightful)
Millions of people will probably die in the Tribulaton, and you're likely to be one of them. Be a hero and always try save others without regard for your own life. God loves that, plus it just about guarantees a violent and quick death. A head shot maybe. If you know that Jesus is real, then that's really nothing at all compared to the eternal bliss of heaven. Fundies like to hold up the Rapture as something truly awful, but really, it's no different than getting to heaven any other way, plus you have actual proof of Jesus because the Rapture can't be covered up.
Re:You laugh now (Score:3, Insightful)
your use or the word 'Due' indicates you don't understand what the hell is going on.
The most simplistic definition:
On averages x has happenned every y years. That doesn't mean the x is 'due' to happen again. That this is a probalistic chance it may occure.
OTOH, maybe every 63 million years a sentient life blooms up and spreads destructivly around the globe taking more resources then it puts back.
Re:So when is this doomsday supposed to be? (Score:3, Insightful)
The problem I see, however, is that the end-Permian event is too sudden to be explained by this process. The end-Permian extinction, which wiped out about 95% of all marine genera, is thought to have occurred in under 200,000 years. However, if the Earth slowly traveled into a region of increased cosmic rays, you should see a gradual decline in diversity, not a catastrophic, near-total collapse of the ecosystem, which is what actually happens at the Permo-Triassic boundary. The end-Permian extinction isn't a "fluctuation", it's the near-annihilation of complex life. And given that water does a reasonable job of stopping cosmic rays and other forms of radiation, why would the marine ecosystem be expected to show such a dramatic decline?
Re:You laugh now (Score:3, Insightful)
You probably didn't RTFA... Its point is exactly that those fenomena may not happen by chance, but be strictly periodic.