For the last five decades , researchers have suspected that our planet ’s major geological events fall out in a cycle – but could n’t get the data to in good order back it up . However , with technology come on in leaps and spring , geologist have since been able to show that Earth does in fact have a wash up geologic heart , although the understanding why remain elusive .

Researchers from the New York University and the Carnegie Institution for Science take apart the age of 89 major geological events that pass off during the last 260 million years – including aggregative leatherneck and landextinctions , sea degree fluctuations , andtectonic platechanges – in the hope of uncover a cyclical radiation diagram .

fortunately for them , they notice one – using a numerical technique call Fourier analysis , they discovered that the events were bunch up at 10 dissimilar time points over the 260 - million - year fourth dimension systema skeletale . This means that some every 27.5 million year , there is a “ beat ” of major geological activity .

“ Many geologists think that geologic events are random over fourth dimension . But our subject provides statistical evidence for a uncouth cycle , suggesting that these geologic events are correlate and not random , ” said Michael Rampino , the study ’s lead author , in astatement .

The next step is to make why this cycle exists . In their paper , the authors point to enquiry suggesting that link cycle of global plate tectonics and climate variety could be at play . In astudypublished this month , two of the researchers explore this possibleness in further detail , as well as a potential radio link with astronomical rhythm on bothSolar Systemand wide galactic levels .

“ Whatever the origins of these cyclic episodes , our finding support the case for a mostly periodic , matching , and intermittently catastrophic geologic record , which is a departure from the view hold by many geologists , ” explained Rampino .

If you ’re feeling interested about when the next plenty of events might score , you need n’t worry . The last clump happen around 7 million years ago , meaning there are a good 20 million years to go before the Earth ’s next big temper conniption – great deal of time to prepare .

The study is published inGeoscience Frontiers .