Cosmic Blast Discovered in Trees

A study of growth rings in cedar trees from Yaku Island in southern Japan reveal a spike in the amount of carbon-14 between the years A.D. 774 and 775, revealing a previously unknown and unrecorded astronomical event that was the source of a cosmic ray bombardment.

Ancient U.S. Megadrought

Analysis of tree growth rings have revealed a previously unknown multi-decade drought for the southwestern United States around the second century A.D., suggesting this area may have periodic extended periods of severe aridity.