Question(s) of the week: How does the uranium and thorium from supernovae produce Earth’s magnetic field and plate tectonics? Can you give us more reasons why we need supernovae?

My answer: A supernova eruption event occurs either when (1) a giant star having completed its normative nuclear burning suffers catastrophic gravitational collapse, or (2) when a white dwarf star (a burnt out star) accretes sufficient matter from a companion star to generate a catastrophic gravitational collapse. This collapse produces a pressure and temperature so extremely high in the star’s core that iron and elements lighter than iron are forced to capture neutrons, thereby manufacturing elements heavier than iron.

Nearly all the elements heavier than iron are manufactured by supernovae. The remainder are manufactured by kilonovae, which result from the merger of two neutron stars.1 Without supernovae and kilonovae there would be no elements heavier than iron anywhere or any time in the universe. The following life-essential elements are found in the bodies of every human being: cobalt, copper, zinc, arsenic, selenium, molybdenum, and iodine. Without these heavier-than-iron elements neither human beings, the functional equivalent of humans, nor nearly all large animals could possibly exist. Therefore, advanced life is impossible without supernovae and kilonovae.

I must warn readers, however, about overdosing on supplements rich in these heavier-than-iron elements. They are all “vital poisons.” Too little in your bodies will kill you. Too much in your bodies also will kill you.

Without supernovae and kilonovae there would be no thorium or uranium. Both of these elements are radioactive where the main isotopes of each have decay half-lives equal to 14.05 and 4.46 billion years, respectively. The radioactive decay of these elements generates heat and, because of the long half-lives, the heat release can be sustained for billions of years. Since Earth is super-endowed with uranium and thorium, the heat release from these elements is considerable.

The heat release from the radioactive decay of uranium and thorium is sufficient to produce and sustain a liquid core in Earth’s interior. This liquid core of predominantly ferrous elements (iron, cobalt, nickel) sustains a strong magnetic field. This strong magnetic field generates a magnetic field around Earth that protects Earth’s surface life from deadly cosmic and solar radiation. It also prevents solar radiation particles from sputtering away Earth’s atmosphere into interplanetary space.

The heat released from the decay of uranium and thorium causes the crustal plates of Earth to move relative to one another. This plate tectonics transformed Earth from a water world where water covered the entire surface of Earth to a planet possessing both surface oceans and surface continents. The combination of surface oceans and continents effectively recycles life-critical nutrients. Without long-lasting plate tectonics, life could exist on Earth for only a brief time period. Thus, for many reasons our lives and our civilization critically depend on a large number of supernova and kilonova events occurring in our galaxy. However, the number must be fine-tuned. The radiation emitted by supernovae and kilonovae is deadly. Too high of a frequency of supernova and kilonova events in our galaxy would expose Earth to an intensity of radiation from these events that would rule out the existence of advanced life. Too low of a frequency would mean that Earth would lack the uranium and thorium and other heavier-than-iron elements that advanced life needs.

 

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Endnotes
  1. Hugh Ross, “Neutron Star Merger Produces a Kilonova and Valuable Metals,” Today’s New Reason to Believe (blog), October 23, 2017, https://reasons.org/explore/blogs/todays-new-reason-to-believe/read/todays-new-reason-to-believe/2017/10/23/neutron-star-merger-produces-a-kilonova-and-valuable-metals.

 

About The Author

Dr. Hugh Ross

Reasons to Believe emerged from my passion to research, develop, and proclaim the most powerful new reasons to believe in Christ as Creator, Lord, and Savior and to use those new reasons to reach people for Christ. I also am eager to equip Christians to engage, rather than withdraw from or attack, educated non-Christians. One of the approaches I’ve developed, with the help of my RTB colleagues, is a biblical creation model that is testable, falsifiable, and predictive. I enjoy constructively integrating all 66 books of the Bible with all the science disciplines as a way to discover and apply deeper truths. 1 Peter 3:15–16 sets my ministry goal, "Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience." Hugh Ross launched his career at age seven when he went to the library to find out why stars are hot. Physics and astronomy captured his curiosity and never let go. At age seventeen he became the youngest person ever to serve as director of observations for Vancouver's Royal Astronomical Society. With the help of a provincial scholarship and a National Research Council (NRC) of Canada fellowship, he completed his undergraduate degree in physics (University of British Columbia) and graduate degrees in astronomy (University of Toronto). The NRC also sent him to the United States for postdoctoral studies. At Caltech he researched quasi-stellar objects, or "quasars," some of the most distant and ancient objects in the universe. Not all of Hugh's discoveries involved astrophysics. Prompted by curiosity, he studied the world’s religions and "holy books" and found only one book that proved scientifically and historically accurate: the Bible. Hugh started at religious "ground zero" and through scientific and historical reality-testing became convinced that the Bible is truly the Word of God! When he went on to describe for others his journey to faith in Jesus Christ, he was surprised to discover how many people believed or disbelieved without checking the evidence. Hugh's unshakable confidence that God's revelations in Scripture and nature do not, will not, and cannot contradict became his unique message. Wholeheartedly encouraged by family and friends, communicating that message as broadly and clearly as possible became his mission. Thus, in 1986, he founded science-faith think tank Reasons to Believe (RTB). He and his colleagues at RTB keep tabs on the frontiers of research to share with scientists and nonscientists alike the thrilling news of what's being discovered and how it connects with biblical theology. In this realm, he has written many books, including: The Fingerprint of God, The Creator and the Cosmos, Beyond the Cosmos, A Matter of Days, Creation as Science, Why the Universe Is the Way It Is, and More Than a Theory. Between writing books and articles, recording podcasts, and taking interviews, Hugh travels the world challenging students and faculty, churches and professional groups, to consider what they believe and why. He presents a persuasive case for Christianity without applying pressure. Because he treats people's questions and comments with respect, he is in great demand as a speaker and as a talk-radio and television guest. Having grown up amid the splendor of Canada's mountains, wildlife, and waterways, Hugh loves the outdoors. Hiking, trail running, and photography are among his favorite recreational pursuits - in addition to stargazing. Hugh lives in Southern California with his wife, Kathy, and two sons.



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