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Thermal neutrons could be a cause of biological extinctions 65 Myr ago

Nature volume 303, pages 797–800 (1983)Cite this article

Abstract

Tabulations1–4 of the number of genera present before and after the Cretaceous–Tertiary extinctions have revealed certain patterns1–6. Marine organisms were much more susceptible to extinction than were freshwater or terrestrial organisms. Benthic marine organisms were affected as much as those organisms that swam or floated. However, some marine genera were unaffected whilst some terrestrial ones were severely affected. Organisms making calcium-containing skeletons were the most sensitive. Among the hypotheses2,5–9 proposed for the extinctions is that they were caused by ionizing radiations2,8,9. The hypothesis proposed here is that the pattern of extinction in the fossil record emerged as a consequence of neutron activation of certain elements in organisms and in their environment.

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  1. Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, 92093, USA

    A. Aristides Yayanos

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Yayanos, A. Thermal neutrons could be a cause of biological extinctions 65 Myr ago. Nature 303, 797–800 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1038/303797a0

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