Has a Biochem Undergrad Solved a Cosmic Radiation Mystery? 156
scibri writes "A few weeks ago, reports of a mysterious spike in carbon-14 levels in Japanese tree rings corresponding to the year 775 intrigued astronomers. Such a spike could only have been caused by a massive supernova or solar flare, but there was no evidence of either of these at that time. Until Jonathon Allen, a biochem undergrad at UC Santa Cruz, Googled it. He found a reference in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle to a 'red crucifix' appearing in the sky in 774, and speculates that it could have been a supernova hidden behind a cloud of dust, which could mask the remnants of the exploded star from astronomers today."
Re:Pics (Score:5, Funny)
The letters are Elvish, of an ancient mode, but the language is that of Mordor, which I will not utter here.
Funding needed! (Score:5, Funny)
Scientific mystery solved by Google (Score:5, Funny)
Man, sciencing is so much easier these days.
Re:Religious misinterpret phenomenon (Score:4, Funny)
Number of times this has happened: too many to count.
That's not very scientific is it?
Re:No foresight! (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Religious misinterpret phenomenon (Score:5, Funny)
And most of these "observations" of weird stuff in the night sky were due to the aurorae.
As opposed to today, where they are due to alcohol.
Re:Religious misinterpret phenomenon (Score:0, Funny)
The chroniclers were all monks. Your underwear is showing.