Archive · 28 Jul 2026
Scientist links Milky Way's dark matter to Earth's mass extinctions
A scientist named Professor Michael Rampino has found that big disasters on Earth, like mass extinctions and huge volcanic eruptions, happen every 27 million years.
He thinks this might be because of dark matter from the Milky Way galaxy.
When Earth moves through the galaxy, it might collect dark matter, which could cause heat and trigger these disasters.
Nine of the Earth's mass extinctions happened around the time Earth crossed the Milky Way's plane.
Some people believe this idea, but others think it's not proven yet.
Professor Michael Rampino identified a 27-million-year cycle of mass extinctions and geological events.
He suggests dark matter from the Milky Way could trigger intense geological activity on Earth.
Nine of Earth's 13 mass extinctions occurred within 0.3 to six million years of crossing the galactic plane.
Critics dismiss the idea as baseless, questioning the validity of the proposed cycle and its connection to dark matter.
Rampino's study was published in the journal Evolving Earth.
- Who
- Professor Michael Rampino, a geologist at New York University
- What
- A study linking mass extinctions and geological events to a 27-million-year cycle potentially influenced by dark matter
- When
- The study was published in the journal Evolving Earth
- Where
- Earth and the Milky Way galaxy
- Why
- To understand the potential causes of mass extinctions and geological events on Earth
Scientific Evidence
Skepticism and Criticism
Existence of a Pattern
Scientific Evidence
Professor Michael Rampino has identified a 27-million-year cycle of mass extinctions and geological events, suggesting a hidden common cause.
Skepticism and Criticism
Critics have dismissed the idea as baseless, questioning the validity of the proposed cycle and its connection to dark matter.
Role of Dark Matter
Scientific Evidence
Rampino proposes that dark matter particles colliding in Earth's core could trigger intense geological activity, leading to mass extinctions.
Skepticism and Criticism
Skeptics argue that the role of dark matter in geological events is speculative and lacks concrete evidence.
- Professor Michael Rampino
- Geologist at New York University
- Study Published
- Journal Evolving Earth
- Cycle Length
- 27 million years
- Mass Extinctions Linked
- 9 out of 13
- Dark Matter Impact
- Potential heat release up to 250 times Earth's present internal heat flux