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2mo ago

Mysterious Beryllium-10 Spike Found in Pacific Ocean Sediments

Researchers uncover a 10-million-year-old anomaly in beryllium-10 levels, potentially linked to cosmic or oceanic events.

Image
Koll et al. report on the discovery of an anomaly in the beryllium-10 concentration profiles of several deep-ocean ferromanganese crusts (stars) from the Central and Northern Pacific during the Late Miocene. The major bottom (blue line) and surface (red line) ocean currents of the thermohaline circulation are indicated. Image credit: Koll et al., doi: 10.1038/s41467-024-55662-4.

Overview

  • A significant spike in beryllium-10, a rare radioactive isotope, was discovered in Pacific Ocean sediments dating back 10 million years.
  • The anomaly could serve as a global geologic 'time marker,' improving the accuracy of dating methods for deep-time events.
  • Two main theories are proposed: a nearby supernova increasing cosmic ray exposure or changes in Antarctic ocean circulation redistributing the isotope unevenly.
  • Researchers ruled out alternative explanations, such as ice-melting events or magnetic field changes, as insufficient to account for the spike.
  • Further studies and global sample comparisons are planned to determine whether the anomaly has a cosmic or localized oceanic origin.