- Scientists have debated whether Earth's major geological disasters follow a rhythmic pattern for decades.
- A new analysis of 89 geological events over 260 million years strengthens evidence for a roughly 27.5-million-year cycle.
- Possible drivers include mantle convection, interactions between Earth's surface and interior, and astronomical influences from the Milky Way.
- The cycle remains controversial due to incomplete geological records and statistical challenges, but could represent a conceptual breakthrough in Earth sciences.