‘Supermountains’ Buried Under Antarctica Fueled Explosion of Life, Scientists Discover
Scientists propose that Venus likely destroyed a primordial moon through tidal forces, an event that may have triggered a runaway greenhouse effect and rendered the planet inhospitable. Concurrently, researchers identified buried Himalayan-scale mountain ranges under Antarctica that formed during the assembly of the Gondwana supercontinent. These geological structures are hypothesized to have provided essential nutrients that fueled the Cambrian explosion of complex life approximately 538 million years ago.
- ▪Simulations indicate that Venus's slow rotation caused a hypothetical moon to spiral inward and crash into the planet, releasing massive energy that likely eliminated surface water.
- ▪Researchers analyzed 1,700 zircons from Antarctica and found a significant spike in mineral formation between 650 and 450 million years ago, confirming the existence of massive mountain ranges.
- ▪The erosion of these buried Gondwana supermountains created submarine fan systems that delivered nutrients to the oceans, supporting the rapid diversification of life during the Cambrian period.
- ▪NASA's DAVINCI orbiter, scheduled for launch in 2029, may search for chemical signatures left by the ancient destruction of a Venusian moon.
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| Original publisher | 404 Media |
| Canonical URL | https://www.404media.co/supermountains-buried-under-antarctica-fueled-explosion-of-life-scientists-discover/ |
| Publication time | Sat, 19 Sep 2026 10:00:27 GMT |
| Retrieval time | 2026-09-19T10:03:47.830Z |
| Last seen | 2026-09-19T10:03:47.830Z |
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Welcome back to the Abstract! These are the studies this week that ate well, moved mountains, grew brains, and saved medieval texts.First, scientists set out to understand why Venus doesn’t have a moon and discover even more unnerving stuff about this delightfully nightmarish planet. Then: a hidden range of primordial supermountains, a literal brain-space, and evidence of Tudor-era subterfuge.As always, for more of my work, check out my book First Contact: The Story of Our Obsession with Aliens, or subscribe to my personal newsletter the BeX Files. I’m so hungry I could eat my own moonKane, Stephen R. et al.
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