How the Geomagnetic Field Influences Life on Earth - An Integrated Approach to Geomagnetobiology

PAPER manual Origins of life and evolution of the biosphere : the journal of the International Society for the Study of the Origin of Life 2021 Review Effect: mixed Evidence: Insufficient

Read original paper → DOI: 10.1007/s11084-021-09612-5 PMID: 34363564 Evidence Lab

Abstract

How the Geomagnetic Field Influences Life on Earth - An Integrated Approach to Geomagnetobiology Weronika Erdmann, Hanna Kmita, Jakub Z Kosicki, Łukasz Kaczmarek. How the Geomagnetic Field Influences Life on Earth - An Integrated Approach to Geomagnetobiology. Orig Life Evol Biosph. 2021 Aug 7. doi: 10.1007/s11084-021-09612-5. Abstract Earth is one of the inner planets of the Solar System, but - unlike the others - it has an oxidising atmosphere, relatively stable temperature, and a constant geomagnetic field (GMF). The GMF does not only protect life on Earth against the solar wind and cosmic rays, but it also shields the atmosphere itself, thus creating relatively stable environmental conditions. What is more, the GMF could have influenced the origins of life: organisms from archaea to plants and animals may have been using the GMF as a source of spatial information since the very beginning. Although the GMF is constant, it does undergo various changes, some of which, e.g. a reversal of the poles, weaken the field significantly or even lead to its short-term disappearance. This may result in considerable climatic changes and an increased frequency of mutations caused by the solar wind and cosmic radiation. This review analyses data on the influence of the GMF on different aspects of life and it also presents current knowledge in the area. In conclusion, the GMF has a positive impact on living organisms, whereas a diminishing or disappearing GMF negatively affects living organisms. The influence of the GMF may also be an important factor determining both survival of terrestrial organisms outside Earth and the emergence of life on other planets. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

AI evidence extraction

At a glance

Study type

Review

Effect direction

mixed

Population

—

Sample size

—

Exposure

geomagnetic field

Evidence strength

Insufficient

Confidence: 66% · Peer-reviewed: yes

Main findings

This review summarizes data on how Earth’s geomagnetic field (GMF) influences life and environmental stability. It concludes that the GMF has a positive impact on living organisms, while diminishing or disappearing GMF is associated with negative effects, including increased mutations linked to greater exposure to solar wind and cosmic radiation.

Outcomes measured

origins of life
spatial orientation/navigation (use of geomagnetic field as spatial information)
climatic/environmental stability via atmospheric shielding
mutation frequency related to solar wind/cosmic radiation during weakened geomagnetic field
survival of terrestrial organisms outside Earth
emergence of life on other planets

View raw extracted JSON

{
    "study_type": "review",
    "exposure": {
        "band": null,
        "source": "geomagnetic field",
        "frequency_mhz": null,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": null
    },
    "population": null,
    "sample_size": null,
    "outcomes": [
        "origins of life",
        "spatial orientation/navigation (use of geomagnetic field as spatial information)",
        "climatic/environmental stability via atmospheric shielding",
        "mutation frequency related to solar wind/cosmic radiation during weakened geomagnetic field",
        "survival of terrestrial organisms outside Earth",
        "emergence of life on other planets"
    ],
    "main_findings": "This review summarizes data on how Earth’s geomagnetic field (GMF) influences life and environmental stability. It concludes that the GMF has a positive impact on living organisms, while diminishing or disappearing GMF is associated with negative effects, including increased mutations linked to greater exposure to solar wind and cosmic radiation.",
    "effect_direction": "mixed",
    "limitations": [],
    "evidence_strength": "insufficient",
    "confidence": 0.66000000000000003108624468950438313186168670654296875,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "geomagnetic field",
        "GMF",
        "geomagnetobiology",
        "solar wind",
        "cosmic rays",
        "magnetic pole reversal",
        "mutations",
        "origins of life",
        "atmospheric shielding"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": []
}

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AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract/metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This content is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice.

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