Scientists and researchers have always remained attracted to possible meteor collision sites on Earth as they are the best places where we can gather more information about these cosmic rocks of disaster. In 1908 a fireball rocked Earth and destroyed more than 800 square miles of trees in the remote Russian forests of Tunguska, Siberia.
Researchers believe that such devastation can only be done when meteors collide with Earth. Such a collision resulted in the end of the dinosaur era some 65 million years ago and in future a similar catastrophe can wipe the entire human population from earth.
To remain protected against these forces of nature one has to know more about them and studying them in detail is the most feasible option. But till date astronomers have not been sure whether the impact was of a meteor or a comet since neither its fragments not any impact craters have yet been discovered.
Once astronomers discover the exact cause of this impact they can develop more ways to tackle these forces in future. Some Italian researchers have come with a candle in the dark. They have stated that Lake Cheko, which is located some 5 miles from the epicenter of the destruction, might be hiding some clues under its 164-foot-deep waters.
They have stated that they measured seismic waves reflecting off of something at the bottom of the lake, moreover they also stated that the shape of the lake is a result of a low-velocity impact. They now will need a sample of soil from the bottom of the lake, which might give an answer to the whole event.
The researchers came to the conclusion that the impact clues were hidden in the lake during a research carried out in 1999. During that time this team of Italian researchers was looking for meteoroid dust in the submerged sediments. While sonar-scanning the lake’s topography, they were struck by the cone-like features of the lake.
Past researches in the area completely ruled out the possibility that the lake was an impact site, the reason for this can be that technology in those days were not as advanced as it is today.
For now this Italian team has to go through criticisms from all over the world, but once they can get some evidence to support their theory they can really give a concrete answer to the mystery that has lurked the minds of astronomers from the past hundred years.
Via: MSNBC
