Discover
/
Article

Dinosaurs’ extinction more complicated than mere asteroid impact

JUL 28, 2014
Physics Today

BBC : The extinction of the dinosaurs some 66 million years ago may have been caused by more than an asteroid impact. Other contributing factors, such as rising temperatures and sea levels and increased volcanic activity, may have made certain species more susceptible to extinction when the asteroid struck, according to a recent study by a group of 11 dinosaur experts from the UK, the US, and Canada. They say that although the dinosaurs showed no sign of long-term decline despite the presence of those environmental pressures, the timing of the asteroid strike made it particularly devastating. In fact, one of the experts, Steve Brusatte of Edinburgh University, says that had the asteroid hit Earth a few million years earlier or later, dinosaurs might still exist today.

Related content
/
Article
The finding that the Saturnian moon may host layers of icy slush instead of a global ocean could change how planetary scientists think about other icy moons as well.
/
Article
/
Article
After a foray into international health and social welfare, she returned to the physical sciences. She is currently at the Moore Foundation.
/
Article
Modeling the shapes of tree branches, neurons, and blood vessels is a thorny problem, but researchers have just discovered that much of the math has already been done.

Get PT in your inbox

pt_newsletter_card_blue.png
PT The Week in Physics

A collection of PT's content from the previous week delivered every Monday.

pt_newsletter_card_darkblue.png
PT New Issue Alert

Be notified about the new issue with links to highlights and the full TOC.

pt_newsletter_card_pink.png
PT Webinars & White Papers

The latest webinars, white papers and other informational resources.

By signing up you agree to allow AIP to send you email newsletters. You further agree to our privacy policy and terms of service.