NEW ZEALAND - Scientists have long speculated that Earth's magnetic field collapsed and flipped poles many eons ago, exposing our planet to cosmic rays and other galactic hazards. It's believed this event caused a shift in climate that lasted 500 years.
Researchers have now pieced this story together - after a nearly 50,000-year-old kauri tree was unearthed.
“For the first time ever, we have been able to precisely date the timing and environmental impacts of the last magnetic pole switch,” says Chris Turney, a professor at UNSW Science and co-lead author of the study.
“The findings were made possible with ancient New Zealand kauri trees, which have been preserved in sediments for over 40,000 years.
“Using the ancient trees we could measure, and date, the spike in atmospheric radiocarbon levels caused by the collapse of Earth’s magnetic field.”
Kauri wood comes from prehistoric Kauri trees – buried and preserved in peat up to 50,000 years ago in New Zealand’s North Island. Buried by an unexplained act of nature, the trees have survived for centuries underground, sealed in a chemically balanced environment that has preserved the timber in perfect condition.
Logs up to 240-ft. long and 27 feet in diameter have been recovered. We've written about a few furniture items crafted from kauri wood, including a massive table dedicated to victims of 9/11 and a resin Earth table.
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