It looks like you're using an Ad Blocker.
Please white-list or disable AboveTopSecret.com in your ad-blocking tool.
Thank you.
Some features of ATS will be disabled while you continue to use an ad-blocker.
Yes. The magnetic poles reverse. And when they do they leave evidence of having done so. "Flip" is a bit misleading though, the process seems to occur on the order of thousands of years. Also, the last reversal occurred about 780,000 years ago. So, how "ancient" are those ancient human civilizations you're talking about?
Our Earth's poles do flip. A nearby supernova explosion could alter our planet's electrical environment. Even solar activity has the potential to wipe out our current communications technology. It's possible.
A supernova near enough have such an effect would leave other evidence.
...the Brunhes–Matuyama reversal, occurred 780,000 years ago. A brief complete reversal, known as the Laschamp event, occurred only 41,000 years ago during the last glacial period. That reversal lasted only about 440 years with the actual change of polarity lasting around 250 years. During this change the strength of the magnetic field dropped to 5% of its present strength.[1] Brief disruptions that do not result in reversal are called geomagnetic excursions.
I didn't say evidence on our planet (though there would likely be some isotopic clues).
Can you describe the other evidence a supernova might leave on our planet?
As pointed out, geomagnetic activity is not likely to wipe out and erase all signs of an advanced civilization. We have a lot of evidence of non advanced cultures from that time period (as well as prior and post). I guess you can stick with "the dog ate it" but it seems pretty unlikely.
The last one happened 41,000 years ago and lasted about 440 years - but might not "geomagnetic excursions" have similar effects?
soficrow
For discussion's sake, let's assume ancient humans did develop sophisticated technologies. How could those technologies disappear without a trace? Where is the concrete evidence?
Phage
reply to post by soficrow
I didn't say evidence on our planet (though there would likely be some isotopic clues).
Can you describe the other evidence a supernova might leave on our planet?
Something like this in our stellar neighborhood:
www.mrao.cam.ac.uk...
Supernovas & Supernova Remnants
Every 50 years or so, a massive star in our galaxy blows itself apart in a supernova explosion. Supernovas are one of the most violent events in the universe, and the force of the explosion generates a blinding flash of radiation, as well as shock waves analogous to sonic booms.
...geomagnetic activity is not likely to wipe out and erase civilization. We have a lot of evidence of non advanced cultures from that time period (as well as prior and post). I guess you can stick with "the dog ate it" but it seems pretty unlikely.
I don't see any comparison. But just for fun here's a piece I did about the RTMS a while back.
But funny thing - I was just reviewing the 2011 Real-time Magnetosphere Simulation from NICT - here is a comparison from Wiki with 4 NICT pics from January, March and April 2011. Just for fun.
Why do we have to resort to Aliens every time some ancient technology cannot be explained.