Deuterium, Secret of Yucatán
When discussing the role of deuterium in the origin of life, it is impossible to exclude the mass extinction event that extinguished over 75% of species on earth. The Chicxulub impact crater in Yucatán, Mexico is the only known terrestrial impact structure that has remained intact. The post extinction diversification is a topic that fascinates many. Today I will add the role deuterium might have played in the recovery of life. [1]
The Chicxulub impact crater was first discovered in 1978 by geophysicist Glen Penfield, who noticed large semi-circular arcs with “extraordinary symmetry” featuring the most unusual magnetic anomalies while he was examining airborne magnetic survey data from PEMEX, the Mexican state-owned petroleum company. The two arcs fit remarkably well together, forming a circular pattern exceeding 180 km diameter, with a center near the city of Chicxulub, on the northern coast of Yucatan.[2]
The following map using enhanced techniques reveal second-order derivatives not available from ordinary gravity surveys. The two circular-like features (colored in purple) with a diameter of 160 - 180 km extending up to a maximum diameter of about 250 km, show strong negative values. The map also indicates the possibility of second smaller crater in the north-east direction. [3] Previous Bouguer gravity data indicated a negative anomaly of at least 30 mgal for these circular structures. [4]
Mineral samples from depths of 1335 meters retrieved from the drilling expeditions in 2016 at the peak ring of the Chicxulub crater off the shores of the Yucatán Peninsula showed reversed polarity magnetization (negative values). In geophysics, a magnetic anomaly is a local variation in the Earth's magnetic field resulting from variations in the chemistry or magnetism of the rocks there. [7] The direction of the Earth’s magnetic field, or its polarity, changes from ‘normal’ to ‘reversed’ periodically. When it is ‘normal’, the direction is downward, and when it is ‘reversed’ the direction is upwards. [8]
When the K-T impact event took place, it was during the Chron 29r era of between 64.745 and 65.578 million years ago. At that time, the polarity of the earth’s magnetic field was ‘reversed’, hence all the ferromagnetic minerals at the time of impact took on the ‘reversed’ magnetic signature upon cooling. It is also believed that the polarity of earth remained reversed for some 250,000-300,000 years after the K-T event. [5,6] What is the significance of magnetic anomalies?
MAGNETIC FIELD EFFECT
Magnetic fields control biochemical reactions in all five kingdoms of living organisms. Magnetic fields affect whole organisms on quantum, cellular, and molecular levels. [9]
The reduction or elimination of the normal Earth’s magnetic field has been shown to have many beneficial effects on health, including the suppression of cancer in multiple model cancer cell lines. The following chart shows cancer cells cultured in lower magnetic fields divide at a slower pace than those cultured at normal magnetic fields, without any indication of apoptosis or necrosis [10]
On the other hand, increased magnetic stimulation has been found to be effective in the treatment of neurological diseases including major depression [37] and Parkinson’s disease as it is able to induce the release of striatal dopamine in humans, and other hormonal changes. [11,12, 38]
There is evidence that the central nervous system (CNS) is extremely sensitive to magnetic fields which have the ability to alter behavioral and physiological functions, motivation, emotional component, memory consolidation, and learning. It is also believed that magnetic fields can affect the opioid reward mechanism, including addiction to alcohol and drugs. Wistar rats were shown to develop alcohol addiction when intellectual activity is performed with increased magnetic fields. Increased magnetic fields act as psycho-stimulants, and pretreatment with opiate antagonists blocks the psycho-stimulant effects of increased magnetic fields. [13,14]
There has been much discussion on the effects of deuterium, the heavy isotope of hydrogen, on ATP synthesis. In the study of magnetobiology, none is more controversial than the magnetic isotope effect.
MAGNETIC ISOTOPE EFFECT
A magnetic field can influence the rate of chemical transformations and their results because it induces electron spin conversion from the singlet state into the triplet energetic state. Similar effects can be also achieved with atoms that have magnetic nuclei, in which case, the magnetic nucleus becomes the source of the magnetic field.
Since 2005, Anatoly Buchachenko and Dmitry Kouznetsov (BK) have published a large number of in vitro and in vivo studies on the effects of magnetic interactions that produced substantial increases in the enzymatic synthesis of ATP.
Heavy isotopes have been used in the study of magnetic isotope effects on ATP generating enzymes since 1953. BK et al. were the first to produce conspicuous and convincing reports demonstrating ions with magnetic nuclei are the critical mechanisms involved in enzyme-catalyzed reactions that are fundamental to ATP synthesis, and DNA synthesis including the replication and effects on DNA polymerase. [52]
The conversion of ADP into ATP is catalyzed by four magnesium-dependent enzymes, ATP synthase, phosphoglycerate kinase, pyruvate kinase, and creatine kinase. Magnesium has three stable isotope: ²⁴Mg (natural abundance is 79%), ²⁵Mg (natural abundance is 10%), and ²⁶Mg (natural abundance is 11%). Of the three heavy isotopes, only ²⁵Mg has a magnetic nuclei. [15, 16, 17]
In ATP synthesis the singlet and triplet spin configurations in the radical-pair reactions contribute differently to ATP synthesis, with the triplet state being more efficient. ²⁵Mg with its magnetic nuclei, enhances ATP formation by inducing a higher population in the triplet state via hyperfine coupling. Radical pair reactions are not ‘turned on’ by magnetic effects but are intrinsic to the processes involved. These radical pair reactions are induced by both magnetic and nonmagnetic ions. However, the radical pair reactions function two to three times more efficiently with magnetic ions. [18]
The following chart [16] shows a more than two-fold increase in the amount of ATP produced by ²⁵Mg with the magnetic nuclei.
The chart below [16] shows how mitochondria from the heart respond when incubated with the magnetic ²⁵Mg, and the non-magnetic ²⁴Mg and ²⁶Mg with spinless nuclei. The experiment was performed under two different parameters.
(1) is intact mitochondria, (2) is mitochondria treated with methyl nicotine amide (MNA), an inhibitor which effectively suppressed the function of ATP generating oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS).
Under BOTH circumstances, the magnetic ²⁵Mg produced twice as much ATP as mitochondria incubated with the non-magnetic ²⁴Mg and ²⁶Mg, even though the amount of ATP is decreased by the treatment with OXPHOS inhibitors in (2).
Anatoly Buchachenko and Dmitry Kouznetsov et al. have shown that the magnetic isotope effect can be used to treat ATP deficiency in cardiac deficiency; induce the killing of cancer cells via its ability to affect enzymatic DNA synthesis, in addition to other applications that are susceptible to control by magnetic effects. The only problem is, there has been no success in attempts by other scientists to reproduce these results! Literature on magnetobiology almost ALWAYS mention the unanswered question of why BK et al.’s experiments could not be reproduced.
MAGNETIC ANOMALIES
In 2011, Crotty et al. published their findings in a study where they failed to reproduce similar results of creatine kinase on ATP synthesis using the magnetic isotope principle. They later issued a correction, stating the samples of magnesium chloride used in the experiments were contaminated with iron (Fe) ions in amounts which were enough to destroy nuclear spin selectivity and cancel out both magnetic isotope and magnetic field effects. [19]
Iron is strongly ferromagnetic. It retains the signature of the magnetic field of its environment even after the magnetic field is removed. The presence of iron ions enhanced the magnetic field effects of the environment where Crotty et al. conducted the experiments.
Is there a difference in the magnetic fields where Buchachenko, Kouznetsov et al. and Crotty et al. conducted their studies? You BET!
Buchachenko, Kouznetsov et al. performed the studies in Moscow USSR, and Crotty et al. conducted the majority of their experiments in Dublin Ireland.
Moscow is very close to the LARGEST magnetic anomaly in the world. The Kursk Anomaly where the largest amplitude magnetic anomaly is located, is an area about 750 km by 300 km, extending 2-3 km below ground. These anomalies are highly negative (reversed), and is caused by magnetite quartzites disseminated throughout metamorphic rocks and Pre-Cambrian granitic minerals. [20]
The chart below [21] show negative magnetic anomalies in the entire regions affected by the Kursk deposits.
Where is Moscow? Using Moscow’s map coordinates, longitude 37.618, latitude 55.751, locate Moscow on this detailed magnetic anomaly map of Kursk below. [22]
Moscow is situated in a NEGATIVE (reversed) magnetic field, represented by dashed contours in the map:
What about Crotty et al.? The bulk of their experiments were conducted in Dublin, Ireland.
This magnetic anomaly map of Ireland shows extremely high gradients of POSITIVE magnetic fields of between 30 to 60 mGal where Dublin is located. [23]
Is it actually possible that the extraordinary results achieved by BK et al. involving magnetic isotope effect, especially the marked increase in ATP synthesis, are only attainable in a negative or reversed magnetic field environment? Could the reversed polarity be the reason why people report feelings of well being when they are in areas known for magnetic anomalies such as the Sedona vortexes? Can magnetic anomalies be part of the reason for longevity in Teteven, Bulgaria or Okinawa in Japan? [33,34]
From the gravity anomaly map of the Yucatán peninsula above, one can see that there are areas where the magnetic field is reversed. In those areas, I often have come across countless stories of people being able to reduce medication yet improve their health. Many experience increased energy while consuming less food. I often ask these people if they feel the same when they are on the east coast of Yucatán. The answer is almost always a ‘no’. Yet I have also been told by people who do not have noteworthy improvements in these negative anomaly areas that they obtain better results after they move to the east coast of Yucatán.
So what is truly at play here? Could it be the healing effects of the cenotes? After all, Maya believed cenotes, as gateways to the afterlife, are bestowed with special healing powers. Are these cenotes affected by magnetic anomalies?
YUCATAN CENOTES & MAGNETIC ANOMALIES
The Yucatán Peninsula is one of the largest limestone (calcium carbonate) platforms in the world, originating around the time of the K-T event some 65 million years ago. The Peninsula attained its present shape during the last 5.3 to 2.6 million years, and has been exposed and submerged by the ocean many times during the last 800,000 years. Present sea level was attained approximately 5,500 years ago. [24, 25, 27]
Cenotes are sinkholes formed by the dissolution of the limestone by carbonic acid (rainwater acidified by absorption of carbon dioxide from air and decomposition of organic matter). These sinkholes sometimes are connected in an extensive network of underground conduits, some are submerged, others are dry. The state of Quintana Roo has several of the largest cave systems in the world, spanning hundreds of kilometers. [27]
Although there are more than 7,000 cenotes mapped in the north western peninsula of Yucatán, and over 900 in the state of Quintana Roo on the east, only the cenotes found in the 180-km-diameter semicircular band that coincides with the peak ring of the Chicxulub impact crater, buried at depths of 800 to 1500 meters below the ocean floor, have any direct relationship to the impact event 65 millions years ago. It is theorized that this famous Ring of Cenotes developed along ancient faults outlining the hydrothermal systems and mineral deposits that cooled after the impact event. [26]
Cenotes in Yucatán are divided into six hydrogeochemical/physiographic regions. The following map shows the cenotes found in four of these major regions. The famous Cenotes Ring, Pockmarked Terrain, Holbox Fracture Zone and the Evaporite Region.
Arrows indicate direction and flow patterns of underground water, dark dots are cenotes, while circles are PEMEX wells. [28]
MAYA SETTLEMENTS
The Yucatán Peninsula has almost no rivers and only a few lakes. Cenotes are the principal sources of water in the region. As such, one would expect to find Maya settlements in the vicinity of cenotes. A closer examination of Maya settlement patterns across most of NW Yucatán reveal something quite unexpected.
Of the 1,152 known archaeological sites in the region of study, 65.45 percent are located above the buried crater, in one specific quadrant, as seen in the map below: [29]
Location of natural and artificial wells associated with Maya settlements. Red indicates high density of population, dark blue indicates depth of aquifer from 10-15 meters.
Location of natural and artificial chultuns (water storage system) associated with Maya settlements. Red indicates high density of population. Light blue indicates shallow aquifer depths.
Now take another look at the second derivative gravity anomaly map again [3]:
The location of the wells and chultuns are in areas with the highest negative (reversed) magnetic field readings. Do you think the Maya felt the benefits from the magical combination of reversed magnetic fields and magnetic isotope effect?
What about the east coast areas? Are there magnetic anomalies there?
HIGH MAGNETIC GRADIENTS IN QUINTANA ROO & ISLA MUJERES
The east coast of the Yucatán Peninsula, especially around the areas of Cancun and Isla Mujeres, show abnormally high magnetic gradients, with Isla Mujeres sporting Bouguer gravity readings of +600 to +700 gu [30,31] It is no wonder there are reports of increased testosterone and dopamine levels by biohackers who frequent the Yucatán east coast. Intense positive magnetic fields are psycho-stimulating, with the potential of mediating the opioid reward mechanisms in the central nervous system. [13,14]
High gravity gradient along the entire east coast of Yucatán. [30]
High gravity gradient around Isla Mujures of between 600 to 700 gu. [31]
It is now quite obvious that the beneficial effects of cenotes cannot be attributed solely to magnetic anomalies, since there are many cenotes where magnetic anomalies are entirely absent. Were the Maya wrong about the healing effects of cenotes?
What is the one common factor that is present throughout the entire Yucatán Peninsula? If your answer is Deuterium, you got an A+.
DEUTERIUM IN YUCATAN
Yucatán is highly deuterium enriched. Take a look at the delta-D values of groundwater throughout the country of Mexico. The most positive groundwater isotope values between −20‰ to −30‰ are found at low elevations, on the side of Mexico along the Caribbean and Gulf coast and within the entire Yucatán peninsula. [32]
Along the northern Yucatán coast, one can find many alkaline hypersaline lagoons, saltmarshes, and temporary salterns. Salterns are specialized hypersaline habitats in which salinity ranges from that of sea water (35 p.s.u.) to about 150 p.s.u. or more. Much of the groundwater in Yucatán is penetrated by seawater as far as 110 km inland. The regional aquifer typically contains a thin freshwater lens that floats above denser saline water. It is not surprising that most cenotes also have a mixture of freshwater which floats above a dense layer of saline below. [25]
QUINTANA ROO
Many cave systems in eastern Quintana Roo contain salt or brackish waters even though they lack a surface connection to the ocean. [35] It is interesting to see how the salinity in one of the most famous cenotes in Quintana Roo, Nohoch Hol, more than triple within a depth of just 15 meters. [36]
In my previous article, Deuterium, Quantum Paradox, I pointed out that salinity affects deuterium concentration. The higher the salinity, the higher the deuterium concentration. If you are wondering if most of the cenotes in Yucatán are enriched with deuterium, depending on the salinity levels, then you are absolutely on the right track.
Not only that, deuterium is found to be in excess when it is measured against the heavy isotope of oxygen in Yucatán. [32]
Where does this excess deuterium come from?
EXTRATERRESTRIAL DEUTERIUM ABUNDANCE
Hypersaline fluids from drill samples retrieved from depths of 1500 meters at the Yaxcopoil boreholes at the Chicxulub impact crater in 2000 showed extremely high delta-D values. At depths of 1500 meters is where mineral deposits from the K-T impact projectile hydrothermal system are located. This hydrothermal system is believed to have been active for at least 300,000 years after the impact. [39,40,41] Recall from my previous chapter, Deuterium, Quantum Paradox, the self organization of life began in harsh environments with hydrothermal vents, involving hot alkaline mineral water enriched with deuterium.
Where did all this extra deuterium come from? What if I told you it came with the asteroid that extinguished 75% of species on earth?
Chondritic meteorites found on earth reveal isotopic records of the first few million years of solar system activities. Depending on where these asteroids were formed, the hydrogen/deuterium values can range from an enrichment factor of 2 compared to earth’s natural abundance, which is approximately 1 part deuterium to 6420 parts hydrogen, to ONE part deuterium to THREE parts hydrogen!! [42]
Take a look at this chart, showing the EXTREME levels of deuterium enrichment from various chondritic meteorite samples taken [43]
The table below compares deuterium concentration form different water samples taken at various impact sites to minerals of extraterrestrial origin. Notice the HIGH positive delta D values in the seven carbonaceous (chondritic) meteorites. It is pointed out that certain carbonaceous chondrites contain the highest concentrations of deuterium ever found in nature. [44]
Is it a mere coincidence that the K-T impact projectile extinguished over 75% of species on earth, and yet at the same time, brought enough deuterium to spark a robust and diverse reanimation of life on earth?
DEUTERIUM & DIVERSIFICATION OF SPECIES
Life exists almost everywhere on the earth, from deep-sea hydrothermal vents to the heights of the Himalayas, from boiling waters of hot springs to the cold expanses of Antarctica. These organisms are called extremophiles because of their ability to adapt and thrive under extreme and diverse environments. [46]
Drill samples from the K-T impact boreholes indicate hydrothermal fluid temperatures between 270 and 100 °C, in high salinities. [39] Actual temperatures of hydrothermal activities after the impact event could have been much higher. How did life manage to survive at those high temperatures? Not only did deuterium help life survive, deuterium created life in an environment where there is hot alkaline mineral water interacting with CaCo3 (calcium carbonate), or what Yucatán is primarily made of, LIMESTONE! [45]
Deuterium enrichment has been found to increase diversity in the creation of species. The following chart illustrates the results from a series of experiments where primordial‐soup conditions were recreated under normal hydrogen environments and deuterium enriched environments. About 120 new species were created, but the distribution of new species revealed that the addition of only one neutron from deuterium resulted in significant increased complexity in identical reaction conditions. The new products created in the hydrogen environments were heavily dominated by one species, whereas the deuterium enriched environment yielded richer and more diverse range of products. A large proportion of these newly created products have no equivalence in the world we are familiar with. [47]
Would you be even more surprised if I told you that you can find examples of deuterium’s effect on diversification of species in Yucatán?
DEUTERIUM, SECRET OF CENOTES?
Samples of the brine shrimp Artemia were taken from four distinct hypersaline salterns located across the Yucatán Peninsular. A cytogenetic study of these samples revealed that the Yucatán brine shrimp represent a different sibling species, with distinct chromosome and chromocenter numbers, as well as different levels homologous chromosome sets. [48]
So the Maya were right about the healing powers of the cenotes after all? Indeed they are.
Native bacteria from cenotes in Yucatán are shown to exhibit antimicrobial properties with broad action spectrums. All 46 strains with antimicrobial activity isolated were able to grow in hypersaline conditions. Of the strains that could be identified, all were heterotrophic bacteria with the exception of just one chemotroph. From Chapter 3, Microbiome, we know that heterotrophs are mostly commensal, and they enrich deuterium. [49]
The combination of magnetic field anomalies with the magnetic isotope effect, and the power of deuterium makes healing in Yucatán a most intriguing prospect. Are there other places like Yucatán? Definitely.
THE PHILIPPINES
The area called the Mindanao Trench in the Pacific Ocean off the shores of Siargao Island in the Philippines has been identified to hold the greatest amount of deuterium deposit in the world! The Philippine islands also exhibit huge magnetic anomalies. [50,51]
One of my readers is currently living in the Philippines and report excellent health experiences, despite the constant exposure to intensely damaging UV rays. There is no doubt that the magnetic anomaly plays a critical role, but does deuterium help protect cells from harsh conditions including UV radiation? Life began and evolved in deuterium enriched environments much harsher than anything comparable today.
How is deuterium able to do that? Find out in my next article!
Thank you for reading, please consider giving me a ‘like’ or leave a comment/question so that I know you want to learn more about the magic of deuterium. If you haven’t read my previous articles on Deuterium, here are the links to them:
Chapter 1. Measuring Deuterium https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/deuterium-101-chapter-1-measuring-doris-loh/?published=t
Chapter 2. You Are What You Eat https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/deuterium-101-chapter-2-you-what-eat-doris-loh/?published=t
Chapter 3. Microbiome: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/deuterium-101-chapter-3-microbiome-doris-loh/
Chapter 4. Quantum Paradox: Light, Water & Magnetism, Part 1 https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/deuterium-quantum-paradox-light-water-magnetism-doris-loh/?published=t
Chapter 6. Mitochondria - Deuterium Depletion in a 5G World
Chapter 7. DEUTERIUM, REDOX & 5G – THE VITAMIN C CONNECTION
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