And experts are rethinking why the dangerous element exists on Earth.
Plutonium-244 was discovered nearly 5,000 feet below the Pacific Ocean
Researchers say it's the result of 'violent cosmic events' that occurred millions of years ago
Plutonium-244 has a half-life of approximately 80 million years
The study suggests the plutonium could have resulted from multiple supernova explosions A rare radioactive plutonium isotope dating back millions of years has been recently discovered at the bottom of the ocean, leading experts to question how it originated on Earth.
The dangerous element known as plutonium-244 - discovered nearly 5,000ft below the Pacific Ocean in the ocean crust - is the result of 'violent cosmic events' that occurred in deep space millions of years ago.
Plutonium-244's presence on Earth suggests that an exceptionally violent event billions of years ago, such as neutron stars colliding, may have caused it to appear on our planet.