A hidden mathematical pattern in world history has emerged

The focus of the research was on the Phanerozoic Era, a period that dates back approximately 540 million years and is currently in our current era. This geological epoch encompasses the Paleozoic, Mesozoic, and Cenozoic eras. Scientists examined how major events during this period—such as the asteroid impact that wiped out the dinosaurs—paved the way for the beginning of new eras.

CHANGE IS NOT AS RANDOM AS IT APPEARS

Using time periods defined by the International Commission on Stratigraphy, the team analyzed the fossil record of marine organisms such as conodonts, ammonoids, graptolites, and calcareous nanoplankton. Their results revealed that these boundaries are not random, but rather are punctuated by large, clustered transformations following long periods of calm.

"Although these events appear disordered, they actually organize into hierarchical clusters over time," Spiridonov says. The team expressed this pattern with a new mathematical model they describe as a "composite multifractal-Poisson process."

IT WILL TAKE AT LEAST 500 MILLION YEARS TO UNDERSTAND PLANETARY BEHAVIOR

According to the research, to fully grasp Earth's capacity for variability, it's necessary to examine at least 500 million years of geological records. According to Spiridonov, focusing on shorter timeframes doesn't adequately capture the planet's potential for abrupt change.

This suggests that human history coincides with a remarkably quiet period within the Earth's overall evolutionary trajectory. "If we want to understand what awaits us in the future," says Spiridonov, "we must look at the full scale of the past."

MAY SHED LIGHT ON THE FUTURE

The new model is believed to not only provide a more meaningful classification of Earth's past evolutionary stages but also offer clues about potential future transformations. The researchers note that these patterns not only explain the past but could also strengthen predictions of future, abrupt planetary changes.

The study offers scientists a new perspective by revealing that geological time is not shaped solely by random crises, but rather by a complex yet orderly structure. The results were published in the journal Earth and Planetary Science Letters.