34 Comments
- netneutrality, on 05/17/2009, -3/+21That connection is stunning. I'm literally stunned by this idea, and fascinated. If this is correct, then extrasolar forces must be a major factor affecting the evolution of life everywhere. More research on this is needed, methinks.
- the2989, on 05/17/2009, -5/+22Title should be... 'Is There a Milky-Way Galaxy/Earth Biodiversity Link? Experts Say "Yes"'
Great article, even if its just a few experts saying this. It makes a lot of sense that the Earth's environment could be influenced by what our solar system passes through as it floats around the galaxy at 135 miles/sec. - DaviDTC, on 05/17/2009, -0/+8I like the title now, it makes me feel like an expert cause I know there is a Milky Way galaxy.
- TalSiach, on 05/17/2009, -1/+9You are right. I have contacted digg and hopefully they will fix it soon. Thanks for pointing it out.
- newtondave, on 05/17/2009, -1/+8The point is that galactic mechanics may play a role--not that they're the *only* role. I'm not sure I understand your objection/argument yet.
- darknecross, on 05/17/2009, -1/+8Having "Experts Say 'Yes'" implies a level of confidence the source quotes didn't suggest.
One expert explains how the galaxy 'could' have a shock wave around its bow, which could cause earth to be exposed to cosmic rays, while a paleontologist not involved in the research describes that this 'could' cause mutations on earth and interfere with the atmosphere.
Here's another of his quotes from one of the linked articles:
"'It's a first-step hypothesis,' Bambach said. 'It's an interesting idea, but we're a long way from knowing if that is really why biodiversity changes.'" source: http://www.livescience.com/space/scienceastronomy/ ...
Correlation !=> Causation
That said, it's a very interesting theory. I just wanted to make it clear that no, none of the experts said our orbit around the Milky Way caused the biodiversity trends in history.
Also, does anyone else hate that stories like these almost never link source material? I mean, they linked to an article that was almost exactly the same, but had absolutely no sources. Wouldn't it be nice to know if they published this in the Journal of Astrophysics or something, and when, and what it was called? - footbag01, on 05/17/2009, -1/+7That would also imply that our region of the galaxy is very bio-diverse as well.
- ByteGuerilla, on 05/17/2009, -1/+6Who's gonna play you in the movie?
- sternomastoid, on 05/17/2009, -4/+9Dear Daily Galaxy,
If You are going to keep doing re-posts, You could at least correct the spelling. Or was "1n 1999 " some kind of internet meme in 2007.
Yours faithfully,
S.C. Mastoideus
http://www.dailygalaxy.com/my_weblog/2007/10/hubbl ... - reddikilowatt, on 05/17/2009, -1/+6"The sun is one of about 100 billion stars in the Milky Way, one of billions of ordinary galaxies in the universe. The Milky Way is a spiral galaxy, with curving arms of stars pinwheeling out from a center.The solar system is about halfway out on one of these arms and is about 26,000 light years from the center. A light year is about 6 trillion miles."
Can we have your liver, then? - Memnochxx, on 05/17/2009, -0/+4Good story
- mentaldingo, on 05/17/2009, -3/+7In before 2012.
- bunkka, on 05/17/2009, -0/+4I love space
- thewonster, on 05/17/2009, -0/+3You would argue over the title.
- qwikk, on 05/17/2009, -0/+3I always wondered why nothing was ever said about our position in our galaxy in relation to other things. There's way too much we don't even know we should know yet to understand it all.
- inactive, on 05/17/2009, -0/+3Yes I can see him now! Wait, She is a Chinese woman with tattoos and short hair.
(that explains it) - stonebear, on 05/17/2009, -1/+4Or perhaps gods are just people trying to understand that link.
- redrabbit, on 05/17/2009, -0/+2Is there a larger version of the story's image somewhere?
http://www.dailygalaxy.com/.a/6a00d8341bf7f753ef01 ...
It's a pretty cool little pic. - inactive, on 05/17/2009, -0/+2Can I? I need a job and I will do anything apart from tricks..
- ParticleMan420, on 05/17/2009, -0/+2does science hurt your immortal soul?
- Enterres, on 05/20/2009, -0/+1Here's some actual proof of this article's main theorem, if you can accept that certain stellar alignments will correlate to more solar flares.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunspots#Indications_ ...
There are influenza outbreaks during intense solar flares because this induces mutations. In and of itself this is a completely plausible explanation for the biodiversity, and even the ending of the Mayan calendar.
The rest of the claims in this article about general radiation damage is suspiscious, though. If the background cosmic radiation was enough to do that amount of damage wouldn't the most obvious result be mass infertility? Aren't our sexual organs the most sensitive to radiation?
I'm not worried - wearing my lead underpants all the time now. It's no problem, really - i'm used to the heavy lifting. And besides, in the dystopian not-so-distant post-apocalyptic future of milky-eyed, three fingered mutants and mass sterility i'll be much sought after as a stud.
Gotta love science. - inactive, on 05/17/2009, -0/+1I was going to ask for a latte.
- harrythe3rd, on 05/18/2009, -0/+1"Bliggity, bliggity, bliggity blat
Why the hell would you type that?
Bliggity, bliggity, bliggity blue
I ***** hate you" - teh_techie, on 05/17/2009, -1/+1We have an ice cream stand called "The Milky Way" where I live.
- sloonark, on 05/17/2009, -6/+4What?
- thefarside420, on 05/17/2009, -5/+2I love a nice nutsack in my mouth
- frsrblch, on 05/17/2009, -5/+2Cool, they fixed the title. I didn't know they could do that.
- TyrannousDotNet, on 05/17/2009, -6/+3My girlfriend loves milkyways
- CamZak, on 05/17/2009, -10/+5We need an ASCII Picard for the title. Interesting article however how much if it is speculation?
- xerexes1, on 05/17/2009, -9/+4I'm only digging this because I am anticipating amusing comments.
Interesting theory, but I think that there are far too many variables involved in evolution to pin on galactic orbital calculations. - nils, on 05/17/2009, -10/+5Daily galaxy repost. Buried.
Go read a good astronomy blog instead. Seriously. - EmilyCragg, on 05/17/2009, -9/+0Yeah! There's a link among all the star systems in this Galaxy: God.
I would think this'd be pretty obvious. - inactive, on 05/17/2009, -14/+2I just logged into digg so that I could bury this article.
Have a good day. - frsrblch, on 05/17/2009, -22/+7............................................________
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