60-Second Space

Gamma-Ray Burst Fingered for Carbon 14 Spike in A.D. 774

01.21.2013 - By Scientific AmericanPlay

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Tree-ring data from A.D. 774 show a sudden spike in radioactive carbon 14, pointing to a burst of charged particles or high-energy radiation that struck Earth. A relatively nearby gamma-ray burst could be the culprit. John Matson reports

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