The creatures inhabiting Earth 14 million years ago saw a different sky.

Millions of years ago, a colossal wave of gas and dust engulfed our Solar System, dimming the night sky and possibly leaving traces in Earth's geological history. This event, linked to the Radcliffe Wave—a 9,000 light-year-long structure of stars, gas, and dust—may have influenced our planet in ways we are only beginning to understand.

Researchers led by Efrem Maconi at the University of Vienna, Austria, analyzed data from the European Space Agency's Gaia Telescope to reconstruct the movement of the Radcliffe Wave and our Solar System. Their findings suggest that our Sun passed through this massive structure sometime between 12 and 15 million years ago, with the most likely timeframe being around 14 million years ago.

“If we are in a denser region of the interstellar medium, that would mean that the light coming from the stars to you would be dimmed,” Maconi explained. “It’s like being in a foggy day.”

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This vast interstellar fog would have dramatically altered the view of the night sky, making stars appear dimmer than they do today.

As Earth currently resides in a relatively empty region of space, the contrast between then and now would have been stark.

The approximate outline of the Radcliffe wave in Earth's night sky. Credit: Wikipedia

The impact of this cosmic event might not have been limited to mere aesthetics. Some scientists speculate that the passage through the Radcliffe Wave could have deposited radioactive isotopes onto Earth's surface, potentially leaving a mark in the planet’s geological record. However, detecting such evidence is challenging given the immense timescales involved.

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Moreover, this interstellar crossing coincides with the Middle Miocene epoch, a period characterized by significant climate cooling and the formation of permanent ice sheets. While some researchers propose a possible link between the Radcliffe Wave encounter and these climatic changes, others remain skeptical.

Regardless of its possible terrestrial effects, the discovery that our Solar System once traveled through a vast ocean of interstellar dust and gas adds a fascinating chapter to our cosmic history. It serves as a reminder of the dynamic and ever-changing nature of our place in the Milky Way.

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