Gamma rays may have devastated life on Earth: Newscientist.com

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the hypothesis that a burst of gamma rays may have contributed to a significant mass extinction event on Earth approximately 443 million years ago. Participants explore the implications of this idea, including data analysis and the expected physical evidence of such an event.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Debate/contested, Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants reference a claim that gamma rays may have caused a mass extinction, citing a source from New Scientist.
  • One participant inquires about the characteristics of a frequency vs GRB-energy plot and speculates on the number of potentially devastating gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) over the last billion years based on data and assumptions about source distribution.
  • Another participant questions the absence of trace residues that would be expected if gamma rays had indeed caused significant damage, suggesting that the lack of evidence contradicts the hypothesis.
  • A follow-up question seeks clarification on what specific 'trace residues' might be anticipated from such gamma-ray events.
  • There is curiosity about whether 'left over gamma rays' is a valid interpretation of the expected evidence.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the implications of the gamma-ray hypothesis and the expected evidence, indicating that the discussion remains unresolved with multiple competing perspectives.

Contextual Notes

Participants have not reached a consensus on the nature of evidence that would support or refute the gamma-ray extinction hypothesis, and assumptions about data and interpretations vary.

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What does a frequency vs GRB-energy (integrated gamma energy above the atmosphere) plot look like? There should be enough data collected by now. Extrapolating this, and making some general assumptions about the source distribution, how many 'devastating to life on Earth' GRBs might there have been in the last 1 billion years?
 
Originally posted by Ivan Seeking
http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99994198

Possibly...however, there would be trace residules left..and there are not. For a better idea (perhaps) read the chapter on reoccurring extinctions from my book "Losing Faith" for a sustainable and provable argument.
 


Originally posted by theEVIL1
Possibly...however, there would be trace residules left..and there are not. For a better idea (perhaps) read the chapter on reoccurring extinctions from my book "Losing Faith" for a sustainable and provable argument.
What 'trace residules' would you expect there to be?
 
That's what I'm wondering as well. surely he doesn't mean left over gamma rays?
 

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