Humans Adapted to Weakened Earth’s Magnetic Field 41,000 Years Ago

When Earth’s magnetic field weakened dramatically around 41,000 years ago, humans may have faced extreme space weather, leading them to adapt in surprising ways. The “Laschamps Excursion” event caused the magnetic field to fracture into multiple weak poles scattered globally, exposing people to more harmful cosmic radiation and solar winds.

A new study suggests that this shift may have influenced human lifestyle, including changes in shelter, skin protection, and possibly even evolutionary adaptations. Researchers combined climate models and archaeological evidence to explore how life on Earth responded to the weakened magnetic field.

The findings indicate that increased UV exposure could have led to sunburn, eye damage, birth defects, and skin diseases, prompting early humans to use caves for shelter, apply protective pigments on their skin, and possibly develop more protective clothing. While not a direct cause of Neanderthal extinction, the study suggests that space weather may have influenced innovation and adaptability.

Understanding how people responded to such disruptions can help scientists predict future events that might impact modern society, particularly with our reliance on satellite technology and electrical grids being vulnerable to space weather. The research published in Science Advances offers a new window into the relationship between cosmic forces and human history, highlighting the importance of treating space weather as part of Earth’s environmental history.

Source: https://interestingengineering.com/space/humans-survived-harmful-radiation-magnetic-field