"Uncovering Earth's 41,000-Year-Old Encounter with Cosmic Rays"
Scientists present new findings on the Laschamps excursion, a period 41,000 years ago when Earth's magnetic field weakened, allowing harmful cosmic rays to bombard the planet. By measuring cosmogenic radionuclides in ice and marine sediment cores, researchers found that the production rate of beryllium-10 was two times higher than present-day levels during this period, indicating very low magnetic field intensity and increased cosmic ray exposure. These findings are important for understanding past extreme events, predicting space climate, and assessing their potential effects on the environment and Earth's system.
