'66-million-years ago': Scientists discover source of asteroid that led to dinosaur extinction
Produced by: Tarun Mishra
New Research on Dinosaur-Killing Asteroid
A recent study published on August 16 has traced the origin of the asteroid that wiped out the dinosaurs 66 million years ago, indicating that it came from beyond Jupiter in our solar system.
Geochemical Evidence
According to AFP, the asteroid's impact left geochemical fingerprints, including high levels of iridium, found in a thin layer of rock globally. These rock layers date back to the boundary between the Cretaceous and Paleogene periods (KPg).
Forensic Analysis of Impact
Scientists used chemical analyses of rock sediments to develop a profile of the asteroid, which created the Chicxulub crater in present-day Mexico. The asteroid was identified as a C-type, or carbonaceous, asteroid.
Disproving Comet Theory
This new research refutes earlier claims that a comet caused the extinction event. Instead, it confirms the asteroid's impact as the cause of the mass extinction.
Use of Advanced Isotope Measurement
Geochemist Mario Fischer-Gödde and his team from the University of Cologne analyzed ruthenium isotopes in KPg rock layers and other ancient impact sites. These isotopes are commonly found in asteroids but vary based on their origin.
Ruthenium Findings
The ruthenium signatures in the KPg rocks linked the impact to a single extraterrestrial event, ruling out volcanic eruptions as a cause for the dinosaurs' extinction.
Asteroid Origin Beyond Jupiter
The research confirms that the Chicxulub impactor originated from the outer asteroid belt beyond Jupiter, a region that hosts carbonaceous asteroids.
Scientific Breakthrough
Fischer-Gödde highlighted that this is the first time such advanced isotope measurement techniques were applied to impact debris layers, providing new insights into the asteroid’s formation and journey before hitting Earth.