Thread by @RyanMaue

Does Santa Claus live at the geographic North Pole or geomagnetic North Pole?

Is the answer 42?

"Any reader of Douglas Adams should understand that the importance of “42” is that no one knows what the question is."

Recently, a highly publicized research paper suggested evidence for global climate disruptions 42,000 years ago (42ka) by geomagnetic pole reversals by looking at ancient trees in New Zealand.

The authors speculate further that megafauna extinctions and even humans living in caves 42ka was a response to weak geomagnetic force --> weakened protection against solar wind --> ozone layer damage --> extreme UV + climate disruption.

Whew!

science.org/doi/full/10.11…

Here's a good news write-up by NPR

npr.org/2021/02/18/969…

Multiple Technical Comments recently published declare the theory completely unproven and largely based upon faulty analysis, misrepresenting data, and exaggerating the importance of the number 42.

--> History, climate, and science fiction

science.org/doi/10.1126/sc…

Many intricately woven theories of everything in history involving natural forces and humanity often break down under the tiniest tugs on a thread.

However, if reality is too often boring, you can introduce time travel and multi-verses to get around inconvenient facts. 📽