Intro to discovery
Analysis of chemical isotopes found in ancient ice cores reveals evidence of a massive solar storm that occurred around 7176 B.C. which was highly noticeable at the time because of its impact.
Muscheler was the principal investigator in a study published in the magazine Nature Communications in January. The study shows evidence of a very old event, a solar storm, that caused a lot of high-energy particles or gamma rays to hit Earth.
Analysis of discovery
The event created special types of radioactivity in the air. These types, called isotopes, fell to the ground with the snow each year and were saved in layers of old ice. The cause was probably a solar storm made up of tiny particles called protons, electrons, and ions. However, a big explosion in space called a supernova could also have caused the same types of radioactivity to be saved in the ice.
By analyzing the levels of the radioactive isotopes of beryllium and chlorine, the researchers were able to determine that the solar storm in 7176 B.C. was extremely powerful. If a storm of similar intensity were to occur today, it could have catastrophic consequences such as knocking out satellites, disrupting communication networks, and causing widespread power outages.
The solar activity cycle is caused by the interaction and separation of the sun’s strong magnetic fields. Sunspots and solar storms are more common near the cycle’s peaks and less common near the lows. Mary Hudson, a scientist who studies solar storms, said that the solar storm in 7176 B.C. might have been stronger than usual if it happened during a time when the sun was less active. Solar storms that happen during times when the sun is more active might be weaker than usual, but they are more common. It is not clear why this happens, and some scientists do not agree with this idea.