The Cambrian Explosion – around 541 million years ago – was when life and organisms really got going on planet Earth. Now new research has revealed how that explosion of life has left behind traces deep within Earth's mantle.
– around 541 million years ago – was when life and organisms really got going on planet Earth. Now new research has revealed how that explosion of life has left behind traces deep within Earth's mantle.For scientists, it shows the connected interplay between Earth's surface and what lies beneath, as sediments carrying organic material are pushed under the ground over vast geological timescales throughThe new study looked at rare, diamond-filled volcanic rocks called kimberlites.
Yet here the researchers found a shift in the ratio of specific carbon isotopes around 250 million years ago, about the time that sediment from the Cambrian Explosion would've been folded into the mantle. It's a shift potentially caused by the immense changes in the carbon cycle during a time when the biosphere was increasing in mass and diversity.
It does seem clear though that dead creatures trapped in sediment found their way into the mantle through plate tectonics. Their carbon remains mixed with other material before eventually reaching the surface again through events like volcanic eruptions.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
So, How's It Really: I Traversed The Earth In Moon Boots For A MonthI, your average Earth dweller, traversed the Earth (NYC) in and reviewed trendy Moon Boots for a month.
Read more »
Petition Calls on Biden to Go Beyond Reversing Trump Policies to 'Save Life on Earth'\u0022Extinction is not inevitable—it is a political choice,\u0022 says a new petition calling for bold changes to the Endangered Species Act.
Read more »
Earth used to be cooler than we thought, which changes our math on global warmingAn outstanding riddle about the Earth's early warming phase may have finally been solved: it was never warm to begin with.
Read more »
Carrie Underwood’s birth chart shows she’s equal parts down-to-earth and divaCarrie Underwood's birth chart shows she's equal parts down-to-earth and diva
Read more »
New discovery says the closest black hole to Earth isn’t a black hole at allWhat was once believed to be the Earth's closest black hole has now been classified as a two-star system with a vampiric star.
Read more »
How did Earth go From Molten Hellscape to Habitable Planet? - Universe TodayEarth might have become habitable sooner than thought. But for that to happen, something had to remove all those GHGs more quickly.
Read more »