ZME Science
No Result
View All Result
ZME Science
No Result
View All Result
ZME Science

Home → Environment → Climate

Fossil magnetism proves mass extinction theory

Mihai AndreibyMihai Andrei
May 4, 2009
in Climate, Geology, World Problems
A A
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterSubmit to Reddit

RelatedPosts

Earth took 10 million years to recover from biggest extinction
Bumblebee becomes the first endangered bee in continental US
The elephant bird: the largest bird to have ever lived
Pixelated images showcase how close these species are to extinction
A scene from the late Permian
A scene from the late Permian

The mass extinction theory is… a theory, because there are still some blanks left in to fill by scientists; of course, there are those who try to fight it and find other theories and those that try to back it up and fill in the missing pieces of the puzzle. Now, the latter camp recorded a big victory, thanks to geologists from Universities of Bristol, Plymouth, and Saratov State in Russia.

They found proof in the Ural mountains (in Russia) that shows beyond the point of doubt that the world’s most severe mass extinction theorized by many researchers did in fact took place at the end of the Permian and beginning of the Triasic, about 250 million years ago (just so you can make an idea, the earliest Neanderthal appeared about 600.000 years ago)

An idea believed by many to be true was that in Russia the mass extinction did not take place and there were no fossils of species found there simply beucase of a fossil gap. Dr Graeme Taylor of the University of Plymouth explains:

“Leading authorities including the authors of the International Timescale suggested that ten million years worth of rock was missing in Russia and that the rocks present were thought to be ten million years older than they are. This would mean that the fossil disappearance in Russia would then pre-date that of everywhere else, seriously undermining the idea of a single mass extinction event.”

They used a very interesting technique that relies on calculating the magnetic record fossilised within the disputed Russian rocks and comparing it to those from the rest of the globe. By doing this, they demonstrated that the Russian rocks do record the run-up to the event.

Dr Taylor said: “There is in fact no Permian-Triassic gap. The record is complete and the mass extinction event is further strengthened as being a major turning point in the history of life on Earth and as the most catastrophic event to have, so far, affected our planet.”

Tags: extinctionfossil magnetismpermian

ShareTweetShare
Mihai Andrei

Mihai Andrei

Dr. Andrei Mihai is a geophysicist and founder of ZME Science. He has a Ph.D. in geophysics and archaeology and has completed courses from prestigious universities (with programs ranging from climate and astronomy to chemistry and geology). He is passionate about making research more accessible to everyone and communicating news and features to a broad audience.

Related Posts

Animals

Scientists Map the DNA of a Mysterious Creature Called the Asian Unicorn That No One’s Seen in Years

byTudor Tarita
2 days ago
Animals

Human Urine and Frogs: How a Bizarre Pregnancy Test Helped Unleash a Global Amphibian Crisis

byMihai Andrei
2 months ago
Anthropology

A Population Collapse 110,000 Years Ago May Have Doomed The Neanderthals

byTudor Tarita
2 months ago
Climate

Florida tree cactus is the first extinction victim of rising seas in the United States

byTibi Puiu
10 months ago

Recent news

AI and Brain Scans Reveal Why You Struggle to Recognize Faces of People of Other Races

May 13, 2025

Mysterious Stone Circles on Remote Scottish Island May Have Been Home to Humans Before Stonehenge Existed

May 12, 2025

People Spend $12,000 to Tattoo Their Eyes and Change Their Color but the Risks Are Still Unknown

May 12, 2025
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Editorial Policy
  • Privacy Policy and Terms of Use
  • How we review products
  • Contact

© 2007-2025 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Science News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Space
  • Future
  • Features
    • Natural Sciences
    • Physics
      • Matter and Energy
      • Quantum Mechanics
      • Thermodynamics
    • Chemistry
      • Periodic Table
      • Applied Chemistry
      • Materials
      • Physical Chemistry
    • Biology
      • Anatomy
      • Biochemistry
      • Ecology
      • Genetics
      • Microbiology
      • Plants and Fungi
    • Geology and Paleontology
      • Planet Earth
      • Earth Dynamics
      • Rocks and Minerals
      • Volcanoes
      • Dinosaurs
      • Fossils
    • Animals
      • Mammals
      • Birds
      • Fish
      • Amphibians
      • Reptiles
      • Invertebrates
      • Pets
      • Conservation
      • Animal facts
    • Climate and Weather
      • Climate change
      • Weather and atmosphere
    • Health
      • Drugs
      • Diseases and Conditions
      • Human Body
      • Mind and Brain
      • Food and Nutrition
      • Wellness
    • History and Humanities
      • Anthropology
      • Archaeology
      • History
      • Economics
      • People
      • Sociology
    • Space & Astronomy
      • The Solar System
      • Sun
      • The Moon
      • Planets
      • Asteroids, meteors & comets
      • Astronomy
      • Astrophysics
      • Cosmology
      • Exoplanets & Alien Life
      • Spaceflight and Exploration
    • Technology
      • Computer Science & IT
      • Engineering
      • Inventions
      • Sustainability
      • Renewable Energy
      • Green Living
    • Culture
    • Resources
  • Videos
  • Reviews
  • About Us
    • About
    • The Team
    • Advertise
    • Contribute
    • Editorial policy
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact

© 2007-2025 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.