'How did it get there?': Radioactive blip in the Pacific seafloor baffles scientists

Produced by: Mohsin Shaikh Credit: Esri/GEBCO/Garmin/NaturalVue

Cosmic Mystery

[{"selector":"#anim-9c3bb92f-e678-4f58-b3c1-d3b36fb1af12 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-17.661582335931662%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] A spike in radioactive beryllium-10 was found deep in the Pacific Ocean, dating back 9–12 million years. Representative pic

Radioactive Blip

[{"selector":"#anim-4630ba4f-f671-42d1-a3bf-eb399c61582a [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-16.942923945240562%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Scientists found twice the expected amount of beryllium-10 in ancient seafloor crust , sparking global intrigue. Representative pic

Crusty Clues

[{"selector":"#anim-098bf2e0-90c7-4974-9b5f-8aaa2b549f38 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-43.95297387668204%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Ferromanganese crusts , growing millimeters per million years, preserve cosmic and geological timelines. Representative pic

Supernova Suspect

[{"selector":"#anim-bb2db5fd-1b2e-433e-abb6-17f171715f27 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-1.203307563491908%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] A near-Earth supernova could have bombarded the planet with cosmic rays, causing the beryllium surge. Representative pic

Ocean Reorg

[{"selector":"#anim-d6e5f86b-5efc-42d8-a57b-76541376ec67 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-6.84176131710997%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] A shift in Earth's ocean currents 10 million years ago may have concentrated beryllium-10 in the Pacific. Representative pic

Astrophysical Puzzle

[{"selector":"#anim-6c1121cf-23f8-448a-8c68-22b87d32b48f [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(8.553587824313649%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] The Sun’s activity wasn’t strong enough to cause the anomaly, hinting at interstellar causes. Representative pic

Dating Breakthrough

[{"selector":"#anim-c3dbc747-572a-4fc7-8b93-e5acb7fead08 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0, 1.5151518093557035%, 0)","translate3d(0, 0%, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] The anomaly may serve as a new time marker for studying Earth’s geological and oceanic history.

Global or Local?

Scientists debate whether the beryllium spike is a Pacific phenomenon or a planet-wide event.

Future Probes

More samples and studies will determine if the anomaly holds clues to cosmic or terrestrial changes.

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