Mysterious Radioactive Anomaly Discovered Deep Under The Pacific Ocean
A mysterious radioactive anomaly has been detected deep beneath the Pacific Ocean. Scientists in Germany, led by physicist Dominik Koll of the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf research institute, identified a sudden surge in the radioactive isotope Beryllium-10 in seafloor crust layers dating back 9–12 million years.
The anomaly was found in the Central and Northern Pacific, but researchers suspect it may be present globally.
Beryllium-10 is typically produced by cosmic rays interacting with Earth’s atmosphere and is deposited in ocean crusts over millions of years.
The unexpected spike in Beryllium-10 levels suggests a significant event occurred during this period. Possible explanations include a major reorganization of ocean currents, a nearby supernova, or Earth’s passage through an interstellar cloud, which could have increased cosmic ray activity and Beryllium-10 production.
Ferromanganese crusts, which incorporate Beryllium-10, act as geological timelines, capturing millions of years of ocean chemistry in just a few millimeters.
By measuring the decay of Beryllium-10 into boron, scientists can date these crusts. The anomaly, found in crusts growing at 1.52 mm per million years, dates back to 10.5–11.8 million years ago.
Koll’s team discovered nearly twice the expected Beryllium-10 levels in samples from this period, marking a previously unknown anomaly. This finding could serve as a new time marker for marine archives.
The cause remains unclear, but the team suspects changes in Earth’s cosmic ray protection or a nearby supernova.
“The origin of this anomaly is yet unknown,” the authors write.
Further research is needed to determine if the anomaly is regional or global. Koll plans to analyze more samples and hopes other researchers will join the effort.
