Life origin and evolution may be influenced by the dynamical Coupling between Earth’s magnetic field strength and atmospheric oxygen level

A recent study has revealed that Earth’s magnetic field strength and atmospheric oxygen level exhibit strongly correlated, linearly increasing trends (M-O relationship) over the past 540 million years. This discovery sheds new lights on the long-standing debate regarding whether a strong magnetic field is an essential prerequisite for origin and the evolution of complex life. Here, we demonstrate that the M-O relationship is not static but highly dynamic across geological timescales using dynamic correlation and variable parameter regression analysis. Intriguingly, periods of weakened M-O coupling coincide precisely with the “Big Five” mass extinctions, while the strongest M-O correlation aligns with the Cambrian explosion. Further analysis indicates that shifts in M-O linkage are driven primarily by changes in the magnetic field’s trend rather than oxygen fluctuations, with the “Big Five” extinctions closely matching inflection points in Earth’s magnetic field strength curve. Additionally, human gene age analysis unveils that de novo gene birth rate correlates strongly with mass explosion/extinction and M-O relationship strength, enabling the prediction of such events predating 540 million years ago (Mya) and potentially in the future. Our findings suggest that the stability of Earth’s magnetic field trend—or its coupling strength with oxygen—rather than absolute magnetic strength or oxygen level, plays a pivotal role in shaping the rise and fall of life.