[Rockhounds] How a Faint Magnetic Pulse May Have Jumpstarted Evolution 600 Million Years Ago

[Kreigh Tomaszewski]

Evidence suggests a weak magnetic field millions of years ago may have
fueled the proliferation of life.

The Ediacaran Period, spanning from about 635 to 541 million years ago, was
a pivotal time in Earth’s history. It marked a transformative era during
which complex, multicellular organisms emerged, setting the stage for the
explosion of life.

But how did this surge of life unfold and what factors on Earth may have
contributed to it?

Researchers from the University of Rochester have uncovered compelling
evidence that Earth’s magnetic field was in a highly unusual state when the
macroscopic animals of the Ediacaran Period diversified and thrived. Their
study, published in *Nature* *Communications* *Earth & Environment*, raises
the question of whether these fluctuations in Earth’s ancient magnetic
field led to shifts in oxygen levels that may have been crucial to the
proliferation of life forms millions of years ago.

https://scitechdaily.com/how-a-faint-magnetic-pulse-may-have-jumpstarted-evolution-600-million-years-ago/