Scientists identify rare meteorite that wiped out the dinosaurs
Scientists have identified the meteorite that caused the dinosaur extinction 66 million years ago as a rare CO chondrite. Using nickel isotope analysis, researchers determined this specific type of space rock contained fewer volatile elements than previously thought.
Why it matters
This discovery refines our understanding of Earth's history and the specific environmental triggers that led to mass extinction events.
66 million years ago, dinosaurs, the apex predators, roamed the Earth, dominating the land, sea, and sky. Scientists have known for decades that these magnificent creatures were wiped out after a massive meteorite struck Earth. However, they were unsure about what type of projectile delivered such an impact, wiping out 75 per cent of Earth's species, including non-avian dinosaurs. Now researchers think they have finally found the answer. The massive space rock that wiped out the dinosaurs is a member of an exceptionally rare class of meteorites known as CO chondrites. Researchers at the University of British Columbia (UBC), along with teams in Paris, Brussels, and Vienna, say they have solved a puzzle that has troubled scientists for decades.
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