The extinction of dinosaurs happened about 66 million years ago, but we have yet to know the full impact of the asteroid that wiped out this species. Scientists are still studying the disaster and are constantly discovering new aspects of its devastating impact. Now researchers say that if the asteroid’s orbit had been anything else, it would have missed Earth. They also believe that the asteroid’s impact site and time of year could have made a difference. Studying these possibilities, researchers have found that the asteroid hit Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula in the spring or early summer.
Their findings are based on fish fossils from Tanis, a site in North Dakota, USA. Freshwater creatures are believed to have all perished within hours of the asteroid’s impact as a result of a massive flood caused by an earthquake.
Researchers analyzed the fish fossils, which still retained growth lines in their bones. These growth lines are like barcodes. They allow paleontologists to deduce details, such as whether the fish had enough food during a particular season of their lives.
According to the article published in the journal Scientific Reports, Robert DePalma, a doctoral student at the University of Manchester who led the study, and his colleagues found that fish bones develop a darker coating during the spring and summer, while during the spring to form lighter layers. autumn and winter. The last growth lines seen in the bones of fish fossils from Tanis were light, suggesting the asteroid impacted in the spring or early summer.
DePalma said in a statement to ZME Science that they now have “convincing evidence” that changes the way we think about the Cretaceous paleogene (K-Pg) extinction, also known as the fifth mass extinction. The researcher said the study may also better prepare us for future environmental and environmental hazards, as certain animals are more vulnerable at certain times of the year.
The asteroid impact 66 million years ago had unleashed the power of 10 billion Hiroshima A bombs and released gigatons of sulfur and carbon dioxide, which could have lowered the temperature of the surface air by as much as 26 degrees Celsius — enough to kill plant life and everything else. destroy the food chain.
