A recent study led by the University of Michigan suggests that Homo sapiens who inhabited Europe around 41,000 years ago may have survived a period of intense solar radiation thanks to technological innovations that seem simple but were highly effective: the use of protective pigments like ochre, the making of tightly fitted clothing, and sheltering in caves. These strategies, according to the study, may have provided a decisive evolutionary advantage over the Neanderthals, whose final disappearance occurred around 40,000 years ago.

The period in question corresponds to the so-called Laschamps Event, a geophysical phenomenon that took place between 42,200 and 41,500 years ago, during which Earth’s magnetic poles shifted from their usual geographic positions. Although this event did not result in a complete reversal of the magnetic field, it did cause a significant weakening—down to just 10% of its current strength—allowing energetic particles from the Sun and space to penetrate more easily to Earth’s surface.

This weakening of Earth’s magnetic shield brought with it a global intensification of auroras, which became visible even at equatorial latitudes and especially in regions like Europe and North Africa. But alongside this celestial spectacle, there was also an increase in living beings’ exposure to more intense ultraviolet radiation, with corresponding harmful effects: from eye conditions to the depletion of folic acid, which is essential for fetal development and infant survival.

geomagnetic reversal earth homo sapiens
University of Michigan researcher Agnit Mukhopadhyay reconstructed what the magnetic field around Earth may have looked like during the Laschamps excursion, a time period between 42,200 and 41,500 years ago when the north and south poles wandered from their geographic locations. Credit: Agnit Mukhopadhyay / University of Michigan

Faced with this hostile scenario, Homo sapiens appear to have developed significant adaptive responses. According to Raven Garvey, associate professor of Anthropology at the University of Michigan, archaeological evidence of tools like needles, awls, and scrapers has been found at sites linked to anatomically modern humans. These objects, absent in Neanderthal contexts, suggest that our ancestors were already making fitted garments, which not only provided thermal protection but also acted as a barrier against solar radiation.

At the same time, the intensive use of ochre, a natural pigment composed of iron oxides, clay, and silica, is increasingly documented during this same period. Recent experimental studies have shown that this mineral has properties similar to modern sunscreens. Its application to the skin may have helped reduce the impact of ultraviolet radiation—a hypothesis reinforced by ethnographic observations of human groups that have used this material specifically for photoprotective purposes.

Researcher Agnit Mukhopadhyay, affiliated with the Department of Climate and Space Sciences at the University of Michigan, was in charge of modeling Earth’s magnetic field during the Laschamps excursion. To do this, he used the Space Weather Modeling Framework, an advanced computational tool that simulates the interaction between Earth’s magnetic field and solar particles. In collaboration with Sanja Panovska of the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ), he created a three-dimensional reconstruction of Earth’s space environment during that time.

geomagnetic reversal earth homo sapiens
This figure shows a map of the combined coverage of the region where aurora were able to be seen on Earth during the Laschamps excursion, a time period between 42,200 and 41,500 years ago. The map also shows areas of human activity on a global scale. Credit: Agnit Mukhopadhyay / University of Michigan

Overlaying this model with archaeological data revealed a notable correlation: the areas most exposed to cosmic radiation coincide with regions where increased cave occupation and ochre use by Homo sapiens are documented. This spatial and temporal overlap suggests these behaviors were not accidental but adaptive responses to a changing and potentially deadly environment.

Although the study’s authors, whose findings were published in Science Advances, emphasize that their conclusions are correlational rather than deterministic, they offer a new perspective on an ancient anthropological question: Why did Neanderthals disappear while Homo sapiens thrived? Garvey notes that technological differences, particularly in clothing production and the use of protective pigments, may have played a crucial role in this evolutionary divergence.

Beyond the past, Mukhopadhyay’s work also raises important questions for the present and future. A similar geomagnetic excursion today would have catastrophic consequences: widespread disruptions to telecommunications systems, satellite failures, and, in general, an unprecedented level of technological vulnerability. For this reason, understanding how our ancestors faced and overcame similar challenges could offer valuable lessons in resilience.

Finally, this approach also brings a new dimension to the study of planetary habitability. The widespread belief that a strong magnetic field is essential for life may need to be reconsidered. Earth’s experience during the Laschamps excursion shows that, although difficult, human life was possible under very different magnetic conditions—thus opening a window to the exploration of exoplanets that, while lacking a robust magnetic shield, could potentially host life forms adapted to extreme environments.

SOURCES

University of Michigan

Agnit Mukhopadhyay et al., Wandering of the auroral oval 41,000 years ago. Sci.Adv., 11, eadq7275(2025). DOI:10.1126/sciadv.adq7275

  • Share on:

Discover more from LBV Magazine English Edition

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.

Follow LBV Magazine on Google News