The Chilling Regularity of Mass Extinctions

The Atlantic ^ | 3 Nov 2015 | Adrienne Lafrance

[Mjreagan]

It seems pretty logical. Call me crazy if you want, but there’s likely another celestial body in the solar system on an elongated orbit that disturbs the Oort Cloud on a periodic and regular basis. The only question is what position Earth will be in the next time it happens.

[Rockpile]

Cows make methane which broils the globe.

Dinosaurs were like giant cows so they were even worse.

Where’s my grant money?

[MtnClimber]

I need to think about that. The sun and planets pretty much have poles aligned. The planets do not point a magnetic pole at the sun, but in the same direction as the sun. Magnetic fields like to align, not go perpendicular to large fields. Also, I thought that not even light can escape black holes so why gamma rays? I need to look more into that theory.

[Little Pig]

Gamma rays are emitted by the accretion disc as material falls into the gravity well. It happens on the universe side of the event horizon, so it can still get out. Needless to say only the really high-energy ones get out.

[Noumenon]

Time to get that RingWorld built.

[MtnClimber]

How focused are the gamma rays? it seems they would spread out over hundreds of light years to produce much lower intensity. Also, how much gets absorbed by galactic dust and gasses?

[punditwannabe]

Yes but we are all powerful modern man and we can stop climate and extra terrestrial problems with our penance and reverence for our Mother Earth....you see.

[Ancesthntr]

No, sorry, you are wrong. The Far Side showed the truth...they smoked themselves to death.

[Ancesthntr]

Ok, you beat me to it. Greatest comic ever.

[Oatka]

Immanual Velikovsky proposed some of these collisions happened in historic times - and the Establishment embarrassed itself trying to suppress him. After all, if you've spent your whole career postulating a theory and some "upstart" says you're wrong, By God, SUPPRESS HIM!

[Twinkie]

The dinosaurs looked ahead, far into the future. What
they saw chilled them to the bone. When the adverse
conditions from space began; they all said in
unison, “Whew! We’re outta here BEFORE the
Democrats arrive!” - A True Story 2015

[frithguild]

Ultra long gamma ray burst caused by collapse of blue giant stars at he core of the Milky Way

[17th Miss Regt]

Smoking kills so that is credible. But can’t we work in a world conspiracy of some sort?

[Bob434]

liberals are facing mass extinction too due to their proclivity to, and lust for abortion. Liberalism, a self limiting problem

[octex]

Ok, you beat me to it. Greatest comic ever.
********************************
I also like the one of two dinos watching Noah’s ark sail away, after they missed getting onboard.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks .

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[SunkenCiv]

Thanks KoRn and frithguild.

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[tbw2]

Probably like the joke Iraqi weather forecasts during the Iraq war.
Monday 83°F
Tuesday 88°F
Wednesday 3,500°F