Mysterious radioactive substance discovered in the Pacific Ocean

In recent samples taken from the Pacific Ocean, scientists observed a spike in the concentration of this isotope, nearly twice as high as expected (Photo: ST).

Researchers have discovered a unique phenomenon: An unusual increase in the radioactive isotope beryllium-10 in samples taken kilometers deep in the Pacific Ocean .

This discovery raises an interesting question: Is this increase in radiation due to geological changes on Earth or the result of a cosmic event from space?

Beryllium-10: A radioactive isotope formed when cosmic rays collide with oxygen and nitrogen molecules in the atmosphere. This isotope then falls as rain and eventually settles to the bottom of the ocean, where it can be collected in geological samples.

With a half-life of 1.4 million years, beryllium-10 allows scientists to date ancient geological events and reconstruct Earth's history.

Normally, beryllium-10 concentrations follow a predictable pattern, allowing researchers to use them as a natural clock to date geological periods.

However, in recent samples taken from the Pacific Ocean, scientists observed a spike in the concentration of this isotope, nearly twice as high as expected.

The phenomenon occurred about 10 million years ago and had never been observed before, causing researchers to question their models.

This unexplained discovery was made by an international team of researchers using accelerator mass spectrometry, a highly precise procedure.

By analyzing samples from the Pacific Ocean floor, scientists discovered layers of iron and manganese, which form the ferromanganese crust.

This crust shows unusually high concentrations of beryllium-10 in samples from various locations in the Pacific Ocean. This detail does not account for any contamination or measurement errors.

Dr. Dominik Koll at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf research laboratory (Germany) expressed the surprise of the research team: "We have discovered an unusual phenomenon that has never been known before. The mystery now is whether this unusual phenomenon is related to an event on Earth or comes from a cosmic phenomenon."

An unexplained anomaly

Researchers have proposed two main hypotheses to explain the inexplicable increase in beryllium-10.

The first hypothesis suggests that changes in ocean circulation that occurred 10 to 12 million years ago altered the distribution of the isotopes. If ocean currents near Antarctica were disrupted, this could have concentrated beryllium-10 in the Pacific Ocean, causing this anomaly.

Dr Koll further explains this theory: "This could lead to an uneven distribution of beryllium-10 on Earth over time, due to changes in ocean currents."

However, another, more intriguing theory suggests that the anomaly could have astronomical origins. If Earth were exposed to a sudden burst of cosmic radiation, such as a nearby supernova, this could cause the beryllium-10 levels to increase.

A supernova is a powerful stellar explosion that releases a large amount of radiation, capable of traveling far and wide through the solar system.

Another possibility is that Earth temporarily lost its magnetic shield, the heliosphere, as it passed through a dense cloud of interstellar material. This would allow more cosmic rays to reach our atmosphere and create an excess of beryllium-10.

If the cosmological theory is confirmed, this unusual phenomenon not only marks an important event in Earth's history but could also serve as a "time marker" for dating other geological events.

Dr Koll stressed the importance of such a discovery: "For periods lasting millions of years, such cosmic time signatures do not yet exist. This anomaly could be such a signature as well."

The researchers plan to expand their study to analyze samples from other regions of the world. If similar beryllium-10 peaks are found elsewhere, it would confirm that Earth experienced a major cosmic event about 10 million years ago.

This research could also help us better understand the effects of cosmic radiation on Earth and improve climate and geological models, while also highlighting what we still don't know about Earth's history and its interactions with the universe.

Whether related to events on Earth or in space, the discovery of increased beryllium-10 in the Pacific Ocean suggests that unseen forces, perhaps from space, may have affected our planet.

Future research may help solve this mystery and add a new chapter to our understanding of the pivotal events that shaped the world.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/khoa-hoc/phat-hien-luong-chat-phong-xa-bi-an-trong-long-thai-binh-duong-20250512142119756.htm