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When you consider that extinction events are cyclical and correlate with our solar system's oscillation through the galactic middle plane, you can bet life on t

When you consider that extinction events are cyclical and correlate with our solar system's oscillation through the galactic middle plane, you can bet life on this planet will get wiped out again and there's little we can do about it. The question is: how much time do we have left? (My guess is 20-30M years.)

JoeAltmaier 6y ago
Citation?
- snurfer 6y ago
  I don't think the primary source is online, but it was referenced in the article "Defining Intelligence-Favoring Galactic Parameters for targeted SETI searches" in the 15 Feb 2021 issue of the "Journal of the British Interplanetary Society".
- xaedes 6y ago
  Here is another one which relates it to the passing of our solar system throught the galactic plane: "Sun's Movement Through Milky Way Regularly Sends Comets Hurtling, Coinciding With Mass Life Extinctions", 2008 https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080502092145.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080502092145.h... ``The Cardiff team found that we pass through the galactic plane every 35 to 40 million years, increasing the chances of a comet collision tenfold. Evidence from craters on Earth also suggests we suffer more collisions approximately 36 million years. Professor William Napier, of the Cardiff Centre for Astrobiology, said: "It's a beautiful match between what we see on the ground and what is expected from the galactic record." The periods of comet bombardment also coincide with mass extinctions, such as that of the dinosaurs 65 million years ago. Our present position in the galaxy suggests we are now very close to another such period.´´ ---- Edit: There are also papers which relates it to passing through spiral arms (different cycle).
  - snurfer 6y ago
    Thanks. Your article echos the claims in the JBIS article of gravitational perturbations affecting the orbital dynamics of comets, etc. There's also the interesting (though highly speculative) dynamic of dark matter particle accretion in the Earth's core leading to temperature rise on Earth. The area outside the galactic middle plane is apparently DM-dense.

JoeAltmaier 6y ago

Citation?

snurfer 6y ago
I don't think the primary source is online, but it was referenced in the article "Defining Intelligence-Favoring Galactic Parameters for targeted SETI searches" in the 15 Feb 2021 issue of the "Journal of the British Interplanetary Society".
xaedes 6y ago
Here is another one which relates it to the passing of our solar system throught the galactic plane: "Sun's Movement Through Milky Way Regularly Sends Comets Hurtling, Coinciding With Mass Life Extinctions", 2008 https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080502092145.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080502092145.h... ``The Cardiff team found that we pass through the galactic plane every 35 to 40 million years, increasing the chances of a comet collision tenfold. Evidence from craters on Earth also suggests we suffer more collisions approximately 36 million years. Professor William Napier, of the Cardiff Centre for Astrobiology, said: "It's a beautiful match between what we see on the ground and what is expected from the galactic record." The periods of comet bombardment also coincide with mass extinctions, such as that of the dinosaurs 65 million years ago. Our present position in the galaxy suggests we are now very close to another such period.´´ ---- Edit: There are also papers which relates it to passing through spiral arms (different cycle).
- snurfer 6y ago
  Thanks. Your article echos the claims in the JBIS article of gravitational perturbations affecting the orbital dynamics of comets, etc. There's also the interesting (though highly speculative) dynamic of dark matter particle accretion in the Earth's core leading to temperature rise on Earth. The area outside the galactic middle plane is apparently DM-dense.