Scientists have now identified the origin of the asteroid responsible for the dinosaurs' extinction. By analyzing the chemical signatures from rocks dated to the end of the Cretaceous Period, they have determined that the asteroid originated from beyond Jupiter.
This asteroid, implicated in the extinction of the dinosaurs, was no ordinary celestial body, according to researchers. Analysis of the chemical residues left by the impact 66 million years ago, compared with known meteorite samples, suggests that the culprit was a carbonaceous chondrite, a type of asteroid that is among the oldest known and formed billions of years ago in the early solar system.
Given that such chondrites can only come from regions beyond Jupiter, it implies that the dinosaur-extinguishing asteroid also originated from there. Dr. Ashley King, a meteorite researcher at the Natural History Museum, comments that this study further undermines alternative explanations for the mass extinction at the end of the Cretaceous. Dr. King, who was not involved in the research published in the journal Science, remarks, “This is a well-conducted study that successfully confirms the nature of the asteroid that impacted Earth 66 million years ago.” He continues, “The researchers were able to detect trace amounts of ruthenium, an element that is scarce in Earth's crust but more prevalent in asteroids.”
“The ruthenium levels observed are more indicative of an asteroid impact than a comet collision or extensive volcanic activity. Future studies may clarify the specific type of carbonaceous asteroid involved, further pinpointing its origin.”
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