Scientists Discover Mathematical Pattern Behind Earth’s Catastrophic Events

A new study published in the journal Earth and Planetary Science Letters reveals a mathematical regularity in the occurrence of major disasters throughout Earth’s history.

The researchers focused on the Phanerozoic Eon, which spans the last 540 million years, and examined the transitions between major geological eras: the Cenozoic, Mesozoic, and Paleozoic.

The study also incorporated stratigraphic data on ancient organisms — including ammonites, calcareous nanoplankton, and conodonts — to reconstruct the timing and nature of large-scale changes.

The analysis revealed that Earth’s history features distinct clusters of dramatic events — separated by long intervals of relative stability with few or no catastrophic disruptions. According to the authors, these transformations follow a multifractal pattern: instead of occurring randomly, they unfold in cascading cycles.

Typically, the geochronological timeline is viewed as a linear sequence of periods and epochs. However, this research suggests that each major phase is triggered by global crises and recovery processes. As noted by Andrej Spiridonov, a geologist and paleontologist at Vilnius University and one of the study’s authors, catastrophic events have repeatedly reshaped the course of evolution — some marking the end of individual epochs, others ending entire eras.

For example, the asteroid impact 66 million years ago that wiped out the dinosaurs also defined the boundary between the Mesozoic and Cenozoic eras.

The researchers believe that the discovered patterns could help scientists better interpret past mass extinctions and improve predictions of future large-scale planetary shifts.