Sunscreen-like chemicals found in fossil plants reveal UV radiation was involved in mass extinction events

New discovery of sunscreen-like chemicals in fossil plants reveals UV radiation played a part in mass extinction events

New research has uncovered that pollen preserved in 250 million year old rocks contain compounds that function like sunscreen, these are produced by plants to protect them from harmful ultraviolet (UV-B) radiation. The findings suggests that a pulse of UV-B played an important part in the end Permian mass extinction event.

Strange New Discovery Reveals UV Radiation Played a Part in Mass Extinction Events

New discovery of sunscreen-like chemicals in fossil plants reveals UV radiation played a part in mass extinction events. New research has uncovered that pollen preserved in 250 million-year-old rocks contain compounds that function like sunscreen, these are produced by plants to protect them from

‘Sunscreen’ in ancient pollen ‘points to mass extinction caused by UV radiation’

Experts analysed pollen from 250 million years ago, around the time when close to 80% of the planet’s species disappeared.

‘Sunscreen’ in ancient pollen ‘points to mass extinction caused by UV radiation’

Experts analysed pollen from 250 million years ago, around the time when close to 80% of the planet’s species disappeared.

Sunscreen-like chemicals found in fossil plants reveal UV radiation was involved in mass extinction events

New research has uncovered that pollen preserved in 250 million year old rocks contain compounds that function like sunscreen, these are produced by plants to protect them from harmful ultraviolet (UV-B) radiation. The findings suggests that a pulse of UV-B played an important part in the end Permian mass extinction event.

Strange New Discovery Reveals UV Radiation Played a Part in Mass Extinction Events

Alisporites tenuicorpus the pollen grain used in this work. Note a human hair is approximately 70µm so the samples analyzed are about half the width of a human hair. Credit: Prof Liu Feng from Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology New discovery of sunscreen-like chemicals in fossil plants reveals UV radiation played a part in […]