[__ Science __ ] Earth Has a 27.5-Million-Year 'Heartbeat', But We Don't Know What Causes It

[Barbarian]

In the last 260 million years, dinosaurs came and went, Pangea split into the continents and islands we see today, and humans have quickly and irreversibly changed the world we live in.


But through all of that, it seems Earth has been keeping time. A new study of ancient geological events suggests that our planet has a slow, steady 'heartbeat' of geological activity every 27 million years or so.

This pulse of clustered geological events - including volcanic activity, mass extinctions, plate reorganizations and sea level rises - is incredibly slow, a 27.5-million-year cycle of catastrophic ebbs and flows. But luckily for us, the research team notes we have another 20 million years before the next 'pulse'.

"Many geologists believe that geological events are random over time," said Michael Rampino, a New York University geologist and the study's lead author.

"But our study provides statistical evidence for a common cycle, suggesting that these geologic events are correlated and not random."

The article goes on to document the phenomenon, but why this happens is still not known.

 

[crossnote]

"But our study provides statistical evidence for a common cycle, suggesting that these geologic events are correlated and not random."

I was listening to Dennis Prager the other day and he said 'in today's pop culture, expressions such as 'our studies show' or 'the experts say', is equivalent to "Thus saith the Lord." I can see why.

 

[Barbarian]

I was listening to Dennis Prager the other day and he said 'in today's pop culture, expressions such as 'our studies show' or 'the experts say', is equivalent to "Thus saith the Lord." I can see why.

Pop culture may be important to creationists, but evidence and statistical analysis is what works in science. This is why there is such a gap between creationism and science.

 

[crossnote]

Pop culture may be important to creationists, but evidence and statistical analysis is what works in science. This is why there is such a gap between creationism and science.

At least biblical creationists have eyewitness testimonies. Statistical analysis falls apart when a miracle happens just one time. (Hardly enough times for a valid sampling).

 

[Barbarian]

At least biblical creationists have eyewitness testimonies.

Unfortunately, not. They have some allegories and parables, but no data. Seems that God wasn't talking about that kind of thing. He was talking about Himself, and us, and our relationship.

Science doesn't deny miracles. It's just that the data is voluminous enough that the occasional miracle wouldn't change anything.