Hi all,

I suppose this is somewhat off topic, but being as the earth is
a part of us, along with its history; the topic isn't too remote.

Its seems that the southwest Pacific and Australia are having
a "good go", what with the deep rocks, erupting volcanoe, huge
undersea smokers found, and now it seems that another topic has
popped up (it may have been expounded on in other media areas?).

It seems that a newly discovered pulsar (August 1999), with a
very slow period (~8 seconds), is only some 600 light years from
earth.  Pulsars originally explode (like the Crab Nebula did), and
then form and age.  This particular pulsar formed some 280
million years ago.  Trouble is....the Permian extinction occurred
roughly in the same time frame of 286-248 million years ago.
According to what I've vaguely read, such a nearby explosion
would surely have been devastating to life on earth then.

See on the web about the pulsar at:

http://www.csiro.au/page.asp?type=mediaRelease&id=UndeadStarTorpedoes

The above web site also has storys on the volcanoe and big
black smokers, explored by the ship the Franklin.

Other web sites, to only crudely tie in this thought are at:

http://members.tripod.com/pulsarz/chanlimit.htm
http://hannover.park.org/Canada/Museum/extinction/permass.html

Appreciate any notes or references from anyone in the know on
this topic, if available.  I haven't seen any tie in to the Permian
extinction and this specific pulsar?   

Take care,

Meredith Lamb

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