microrobert
06-04-2012, 01:49 PM
Vast cosmic event leaves record in ancient trees
The wooden hearts of two cedar trees hold a 1200-year-old cosmic mystery – evidence of an unexplained event that rocked our planet in the 8th century.
Cosmic rays are subatomic particles that tear through space. When they reach Earth they react with the oxygen and nitrogen in the atmosphere, producing new particles. One of these – carbon-14 – is taken up by trees during photosynthesis and is "fixed" in the tree's annual growth ring.
http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn21878-vast-cosmic-event-leaves-record-in-ancient-trees.html?DCMP=OTC-rss&nsref=online-news
The wooden hearts of two cedar trees hold a 1200-year-old cosmic mystery – evidence of an unexplained event that rocked our planet in the 8th century.
Cosmic rays are subatomic particles that tear through space. When they reach Earth they react with the oxygen and nitrogen in the atmosphere, producing new particles. One of these – carbon-14 – is taken up by trees during photosynthesis and is "fixed" in the tree's annual growth ring.
http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn21878-vast-cosmic-event-leaves-record-in-ancient-trees.html?DCMP=OTC-rss&nsref=online-news