Planet Earth’s story is written not only in rocks but also in the crystals deep within its crust. Recent scientific findings show that these ancient crystals can help us track the spiral movement of the Milky Way galaxy.
How Crust Crystals Record Galactic Motion
While many people associate Earth’s shaping forces with volcanoes, earthquakes, or drifting continents, researchers have discovered that Earth’s crust crystals actually carry imprints of the Milky Way’s spiral arms. As our solar system journeys through the galaxy, it passes through these spiral arms every few hundred million years. During these passages, cosmic events—like supernovae—can alter the chemical composition of minerals forming in Earth’s crust.
What This Means for Earth’s History
These chemical changes act as time stamps, offering scientists a galactic calendar to track Earth’s position within the Milky Way. By studying the isotopes and composition of these crystals, experts can better understand the cosmic influences that have shaped our planet’s evolution. This discovery opens new avenues for research, connecting geology with astronomy in ways never before imagined.
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