A new study by UC Santa Barbara Earth Science Emeritus Professor James Kennett and collaborators suggests that destructive cosmic airbursts may be more common than previously believed. The research team has presented evidence for several cosmic airbursts of different ages, including events associated with the Younger Dryas Impact Hypothesis (YDIH).
The study found impact proxies in ocean sediments from Baffin Bay, Greenland, which were previously unknown. These records are significant because they provide evidence for the YDIH, a global cooling event that occurred 12,800 years ago. The presence of these proxies doesn’t directly prove the shocks but illustrates their force and reach.
Additionally, researchers have discovered impact proxies in sediments from the site of the Tunguska event and Tall el-Hammam. These findings provide comprehensive evidence for airburst/impact proxies at Tunguska and expand the evidence for a proposed Middle Bronze Age-era airburst over Tall el-Hammam.
The study’s lead author, Professor Kennett, states that cosmic impacts are far more common but possess much more destructive potential than classic crater-forming asteroidal impacts. He highlights the need for further research into these events to better understand their effects on humanity.
The findings of this study contribute to a growing understanding of the frequency and impact of cosmic airbursts, which may be more frequent than previously thought.
Source: https://news.ucsb.edu/2025/021989/destructive-cosmic-airbursts-likely-more-common-previously-believed