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Supernova triggers for end-Devonian extinctions.

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Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

A nearby supernova may have triggered Late Devonian extinctions by damaging the ozone layer with cosmic rays. Detecting specific radioisotopes in rock strata could confirm this cosmic event and its impact on ancient life.

Keywords:
cosmic raysextinctionisotope geologyozonesupernova

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Area of Science:

  • Paleontology and Astrophysics
  • Investigating extraterrestrial impacts on Earth's biosphere

Background:

  • The Late Devonian period experienced low speciation and biodiversity decline, leading to extinction events near the Devonian-Carboniferous boundary.
  • Previous research suggests the final extinction event may be linked to a stratospheric ozone drop, potentially caused by global warming.

Observation:

  • This study explores an alternative hypothesis: a nearby supernova explosion as the cause for the postulated ozone depletion.
  • Supernovae can accelerate cosmic rays, delivering ionizing radiation over extended periods (up to [Formula: see text] ky).
  • Such events, originating from core collapses of massive stars in the Galactic disk, could occur at distances ([Formula: see text]) beyond immediate mass extinction thresholds.

Findings:

  • The research proposes that end-Devonian extinctions were triggered by supernova explosions.
  • These explosions, though distant, were sufficient to cause significant damage, potentially leading to extinction events without a full-scale mass extinction.
  • The presence of long-lived radioisotopes ([Formula: see text] or [Formula: see text]) in end-Devonian strata would serve as evidence for a supernova origin.

Implications:

  • Confirmation of a supernova trigger would validate the hypothesis and identify the core-collapse of a massive star.
  • This discovery would provide insights into supernova nucleosynthesis and its effects.
  • Further tests are proposed to corroborate the supernova hypothesis and its role in the end-Devonian extinction.