New Theory Links Biodiversity to the Stars

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."

Comments

542 Million year chart

[SeanTobin]

Am I the only one who refreshed the chart after a few minutes to see if it updated?

Re:542 Million year chart

[morgan_greywolf]

Am I the only one who refreshed the chart after a few minutes to see if it updated?

Yes.

Re:542 Million year chart

[Quaoar]

I hear digg is working on "Biodiversity Stack" so you never have to refresh again!

hopefully?

[Lord Ender]

hopefully we don't have to wait around 64 million years to draw a conclusion on this hypothesis.

If there is some 64M year galactic cycle which causes mass extinctions, I would prefer to wait as long as possible before having to verify this first-hand.

Re:hopefully?

[Harmonious Botch]

64 million years ought to be enough for anybody.

Re:hopefully?

[Kelbear]

I'm already prepared.

*taps his tinfoil hat*

hopefully we don't have to wait around 64 million

[AltGrendel]

That's ok.

I'll wait.

Apocalypse Later.

[Peter Trepan]

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:Apocalypse Later.

[Anonymous Coward]

there are days when I look at MySpace and think, "today would be a good day for a cataclysm". You are implying there are days when you look at Myspace and don't get that feeling.

Cool

[Timesprout]

I used to think God was responsible for sheep love because he made them so soft and cuddly. Now I know it's the stars it seems much more like it's cosmic destiny to create human/sheep hybrids.

Re:Cool

[peragrin]

two simple points

Slashdot needs a -1 disturbing modifier.

God made sheep soft so we could shave them naked first.

Re:So when is this doomsday supposed to be?

[jfengel]

The dinosaurs were wiped out 65 million years ago, so theoretically, we're overdue.

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.

Cyclic minima

[The Lerneaen Hydra]

Apparently the second derivative of biodiversity (wrt. to time) had a minima 3 years ago. Co-incidently bush got re-elected.

Re:What?

[eln]

I don't plan on being here in 64 million years, do you?

Yes. Can I have your stereo?

Re:So when is this doomsday supposed to be?

[eln]

Oh my God, they were right! The Rapture is imminent!

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?

[badc0ffee]

I agree... I also do not plan to be around for the Y10K bug, which will come up before this.

Re:So when is this doomsday supposed to be?

[jfengel]

So... not before August, then?

Rats.

Fantastic Four!

[arcite]

Can I take a trip to a space station the next time cosmic radiation passes by earth?

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! ;)

Re:Fantastic Four!

[number1scatterbrain]

You know, I always considered Sue Storm and Reed Richards to be an example of a perfect marriage...
      He had the ability to stretch any part of his body to great lengths (heh, heh, heh,)and after sex,
      she would disappear...

I blame global warming

[us7892]

Buy hybrid cars. Start conserving toilet paper. Wait, that's for global warming!

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:I blame global warming

[Overly Critical Guy]

Let's ask Sheryl Crow. Not only does she seem to have all the answers, but the obsessive media is all to happy to report them to everybody. One square of toilet paper per shit? Sheer genius. I suppose the toilet paper is more for wiping the shit off your fingers than anything else. But think of how you're helping the planet here, and you know it's practical because it came from a liberal pop-folk musician. They're always right about everything scientific. And every day is a winding road.

Re:I blame global warming

[exp(pi*sqrt(163))]

> What can *I do* to help stop this 64 million year cycle?

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:Less than 64M years

[Archangel Michael]

The median of the cycle is exactly ....

31.4159265 Million years, anything else is not Geeky enough.

Re:So when is this doomsday supposed to be?

[rubycodez]

but MFMC says we have five and a half years (my f-ing Mayan Calendar)

I'll do it.

[oni]

I would prefer to wait as long as possible before having to verify this first-hand.

I volunteer to conduct the research. I'll just need a small yearly grant for 64 million years.

Re:So when is this doomsday supposed to be?

[nizo]

Interesting; I will have to think about this more. I usually do my best thinking while I eat, so tomorrow I will contemplate your words as I eat scrambled condor eggs off my favorite plates made from loggerhead turtle shells while relaxing on my comfy pile of tiger pelts. Speaking of pelts, hopefully I can get some fresh panda skins for the seats in my new Hummer that runs on baby humpback whales instead of gasoline.

Re:What?

[LiquidCoooled]

Hell yeah.
I can't wait to play Duke Nukem ;)