The illustration shows the high-energy Cosmic rays from the supernova in the Milky Way. The shower structures of secondary particles are created when some of the Cosmic Ray particles enter the Earth's atmosphere. Changes in the Cosmic rays have influenced life on Earth. Credit: H. Svensmark.
There is a link between the number of nearby exploding stars and life on Earth.
There is evidence that shows a close connection between the fraction of organic matter buried in the soil and the changes in supernovae occurrence. The correlation can be seen over the last 3.5 billion years and 500 million years.
The correlation shows that there are essential conditions for life on Earth. This is concluded in a new research article by a senior researcher.
According to the article, the link between life and supernovae is related to Earth's climate. A high number of supernovae leads to a cold climate with a temperature difference between the equator and the polar regions. Strong winds and ocean mixing are vital for delivering nutrients to biological systems. A larger bioproductivity and a more extensive burial of organic matter are caused by high nutrient concentration. A warm climate has weaker winds and less mixing of the oceans, as well as diminished supply of nutrients, lower bioproductivity, and less burial of organic matter.
The source of oxygen is indirectly coming from moving organic matter. Oxygen and sugar are produced from light, water and CO2. Oxygen and organic matter become CO2 and water if organic material is not moved. This reverse reaction is prevented by the burial of organic material. The author says that oxygen is the foundation of all complex life.
The variation in supernovae frequencies correlate with a measure of the concentration of nutrients in the ocean over the last 500 million years. The trace elements in the black shale embedded in the ocean are found to have a high concentration of nutrients. Estimating the fraction of organic material is possible by measuring carbon-13 relative to carbon-12. The ratio of carbon-12 and carbon-13 measured in marine sediments is affected by the amount of biomass in the world's oceans.
The new evidence shows that life on Earth and supernovae are connected by the effect of Cosmic rays on clouds and climate.
The link to climate.
ion help the formation and growth of aerosols, which in turn influences cloud fraction. Clouds regulate the solar energy that can reach Earth's surface, so the link between the cloud and the Cosmic Ray is important. Evidence shows that Earth's climate changes when the intensity of the rays changes. Climate changes can be considerable, and the variability of the Supernovae Frequency can be hundreds of percent.
Cosmic rays are produced when heavy stars explode. Cosmic rays travel to our solar system, and some end their journey by colliding with Earth's atmosphere. He says that they are responsible for ionizing the atmosphere.
More information about the Burial of Organic Matter is available in the Geophysical Research Letters. The DOI is 10.1029/2021GL096376.
The journal contains information about research.
There is a link between the existence of life on Earth and the existence of supernovae.
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