Rebecca Morelle, a science reporter for BBC World Service writes:
In 2012 researchers found evidence that our planet had been struck by a blast of radiation during the Middle Ages, but there was debate over what kind of cosmic event could have caused this.
Now a study suggests it was the result of two black holes or neutron stars merging in our galaxy.
This collision would have hurled out vast amounts of energy.
[ . . . ]
Last year, a team of researchers found that some ancient cedar trees in Japan had an unusual level of a radioactive type of carbon known as carbon-14.
Not that this has anything to do with the C14 dating of the shroud. But some will want to consider the possibility. And they should.
UPDATE: See the comment from Paulette.
Wow!!!!
This Gamma ray burst would only have an effect only on living plants in the years 774 and 775 and on animals that consume those plants. It would have no effect on the shroud, whatsoever. Nonetheless this story is certain to cause some very unscientific speculation, e.g. rejuvination.
I’m surprised I didn’t notice this being reported last year. However, did the new findings make anybody anywhere have to change their dating for a historical artifact, or have they simply explained an anomaly that has been known about for years, and is already included in the calibration charts?
With some verbal acrobatics, we could charge this event with the Shroud fake (as some might purport). :o) jk