Dinosaurs are one of the most interesting creatures that have ever roamed our planet. They fascinate both children and adults alike, and many questions about them remain unanswered.
In this blog post, we will explore some of the theories behind what caused dinosaurs to go extinct 66 Million years ago. We will also discuss how scientists continue to learn more every day, and we may eventually have a definitive answer as to what killed the dinosaurs.
Thank you for reading!
How do we know dinosaurs became extinct?
Abundant fossil bones, teeth, trackways, and other hard evidence have revealed that Earth was the domain of the dinosaurs for at least 230 million years. But so far, not a single trace of dinosaur remains has been found in rocks younger than about 66 million years.
Scientist have been able to agree that the dinosaurs died out in a relatively short period of time. The evidence came from Paleontologists who have found plenty of fossils that show us what the dinosaurs looked like and how they lived. But to really understand what happened to them, we need to look at the rocks they left behind.
When an animal dies, its body usually rots away or is eaten by other animals. But sometimes, if the conditions are just right, the bones can fossilize. That means they turn into rocks! Over time, more and more layers of rock build up on top of them until they’re buried deep underground. The dinosaurs are a group of reptiles that dominated the Earth for 135 million years. They became extinct 65.5 million years ago in an event called the K-T extinction.
Scientists have various theories about what killed the dinosaurs.
Around 65.5 million years ago, something killed the dinosaurs. It was a mass extinction but the question remains, what could have caused such a massive extinction? Scientists have come up with a number of theories, and while there is still much debate, there are a few leading explanations.
A Comet or asteroid collided with Earth.
One popular theory is that a comet or asteroid collided with Earth, causing widespread destruction. This theory is supported by the fact that there is evidence of an impact crater in Mexico that dates back to around the same time as the extinction. However, many scientists believe that the impact would not have been enough to kill all the dinosaurs.
Could Volcanoes caused the extinction?
Another theory blames volcanoes for the extinction. At the time, there was a large volcanic area in India known as the Deccan Traps. It’s thought that the eruption of these volcanoes released so much ash and dust into the atmosphere that it caused global cooling, leading to the death of the dinosaurs.
This theory also has some evidence to support it, as there is fossil evidence of sudden cooling around the time of the extinction.
Could Disease have caused such a mass extinction?
A third theory suggests that a disease might be to blame. Some diseases can kill animals in large numbers, and it’s possible that a new virus or bacteria emerged at the time and decimated the dinosaur population. However, there is no direct evidence for this theory.
Ultimately, scientists still don’t know for sure what killed the dinosaurs. But they continue to study clues from the past in hopes of finding clearer answers to one of history’s greatest mysteries.
The asteroid theory: How could an asteroid cause the extinction of dinosaurs?
The theory is that sixty-six million years ago, an asteroid bigger than Mount Everest smashed into Earth, causing the extinction of dinosaurs. The impact created a crater more than 100 miles wide and released a trillion tons of sulfuric acid into the atmosphere. This acid rain altered the climate, making it too cold for dinosaurs to survive.
The asteroid also triggered huge wildfires that burned across the globe. The smoke from these fires blocked out the sun, further cooling the planet. Ultimately, the combination of cold temperatures and lack of sunlight was too much for dinosaurs to handle, and they died out.
While the asteroid theory is widely accepted by scientists, some researchers have proposed alternative explanations for the extinction of dinosaurs. However, the asteroid theory remains the most likely explanation for what killed the dinosaurs.
The volcanic theory: How could volcanoes cause the extinction of dinosaurs?
What killed the dinosaurs? One further popular theory is that volcanoes played a role in their demise.
It’s thought that the release of large amounts of ash and gas into the atmosphere could have created a global blackout, blocking out the sun and causing widespread climate change. This would have made it difficult for dinosaurs to find food and survive.
While there is still much debate about what exactly caused the extinction of dinosaurs, it’s clear that volcanoes may have played a significant role.
The climate change theory: How could climate change cause the mass extinction of dinosaurs?
For many, the thought of these massive creatures once roaming the earth is both fascinating and terrifying. While we may never know exactly what Dinosaurs looked like, we have a pretty good idea of how they lived and why they ultimately went extinct.
One popular theory is that Dinosaurs were extinguished by a sudden climate change. It’s believed that a meteor hitting the earth caused the temperature to drop dramatically, leading to the Dinosaurs’ demise.
While this may seem like a far-fetched story, there is actually some evidence to support it. Scientists have found fossils of Dinosaurs that show signs of being frozen very suddenly. This suggests that whatever caused the extinction was quick and effective.
Another possibility is that the impact of a comet, asteroid, or meteor kicked up so much dust, radiation and debris into the atmosphere that it blocked out the sun’s rays, causing a sudden drop in global temperatures. This “impact winter” would have made it difficult for dinosaurs to find food and survive.
So, while we may never know for sure what happened to the Dinosaurs, it’s safe to say that climate change played a role in their demise.
The Cancer theory?
New evidence suggests that something else may have been responsible for the extinction of these mighty creatures – cancer. A recent study found that Dinosaur bones contained high levels of a radioactive element known as polonium-210. This suggests that they were exposed to high levels of radiation, which can cause cancer.
What’s more, the study found that this exposure was greatest around the time of the extinction. So this could be part of the that cancer was what killed the dinosaurs. We may never know for sure, but it’s an intriguing possibility.
The truth is, we may never know for sure what killed the dinosaurs.
What killed the dinosaurs? It’s a question that has been debated by scientists for years, and one that is still shrouded in mystery. There are several theories about what might have caused their demise, but the truth is, we may never know for sure what happened.
What we do know is that it was a cataclysmic event that changed the Earth forever. So whatever the cause, it was something big…and powerful.
What can help scientists solve this mystery?
It’s a question that has stumped scientists for years, however a new study suggests that the answer may be hiding in plain sight. The research, published in the journal Science, suggests that a massive comet or asteroid impact was the likely cause of the mass extinction that wiped out the Dinosaurs 66 million years ago.
A recent studies results?
In a study that was led by Sean Gulick, a geophysicist at the University of Texas at Austin. He and his team analyzed data from the Chicxulub crater, a massive impact site in Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. Their findings suggest that the impact was so powerful that it sent a shockwave around the world, triggering a global winter that killed off the Dinosaurs.
Sean Gulick, University of Texas geophysicist said, “This is the best evidence we have for understanding what really happened at the end of the age of dinosaurs. It’s also providing insights into how large comet and asteroid impacts can affect Earth’s climate on a global scale.”
This new study is just one piece of the puzzle, but it provides an important clue that could help scientists solve this mystery once and for all.
Conclusion
Scientists have been studying the dinosaurs for many years, and there are still many theories about what might have caused their extinction. One of the most popular theories is that a comet or asteroid struck the earth, causing widespread devastation.
However, new evidence suggests that something else may have been responsible for the extinction of these mighty creatures – cancer. A recent study found that Dinosaur bones contained high levels of a radioactive element known as polonium-210. This suggests that they were exposed to high levels of radiation, which can cause cancer.
What’s more, the study found that this exposure was greatest around the time of the extinction. So could it be that cancer was what killed the dinosaurs?
We may never know for sure, but it’s an intriguing possibility. Whatever the cause of their extinction may be, one thing is clear – it was a cataclysmic event that changed the Earth forever.
Sources: Natural History Museum, Google, THX News & Smithsonian Institution.
