Ancient Shells Reveal Earth Had 372-Day Year 70 Million Years Ago
- During this geological epoch, daily rotations were faster, leaving each day at approximately twenty-three hours and thirty-one minutes long.
- According to the findings, the tropical seabed dweller survived for over nine years, recording daily environmental fluctuations in its calcium carbonate shell structure.
- The fossil analysis provided precise physical data regarding the ancient Earth-Moon distance during the Cretaceous period, helping geophysicists model how the lunar orbit has evolved.
During this geological epoch, daily rotations were faster, leaving each day at approximately twenty-three hours and thirty-one minutes long.
Ancient Mollusc Shells Reveal Cretaceous Day Length
According to the findings, the tropical seabed dweller survived for over nine years, recording daily environmental fluctuations in its calcium carbonate shell structure. The data demonstrated that the Earth rotated faster around its axis 70 million years ago, resulting in roughly 372 days annually rather than the modern 365.
Tidal Friction and the Evolving Earth-Moon Distance
The fossil analysis provided precise physical data regarding the ancient Earth-Moon distance during the Cretaceous period, helping geophysicists model how the lunar orbit has evolved.
Cretaceous Ocean Temperatures and Photosymbiosis
Beyond planetary mechanics, the shell analysis offered insight into ancient marine environments. The geochemical signatures preserved in the mollusc growth rings indicated significantly warmer ocean temperatures during the Cretaceous period. Furthermore, the research found evidence of photosymbiosis in the bivalve specimen.