Science Friday Were Dinos On Their Way Out Before The Asteroid Hit? Maybe Not
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Nov 7, 2025 Join paleontologists Dr. Steve Brusatte, a dinosaur evolution expert from the University of Edinburgh, and Dr. Lindsay Zanno, head of paleontology at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, as they dive into the debate surrounding dinosaur extinction. They discuss new fossils from New Mexico that reveal surprising diversity before the asteroid strike. Zanno also unveils findings on a small tyrannosaur, suggesting it was a separate species. The conversation highlights how these insights shape our understanding of extinction and biodiversity today.
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Debate Shifted By The Asteroid Find
- The asteroid hypothesis shifted the extinction debate from 'what happened' to 'were dinosaurs already declining?'.
- Steve Brusatte explains that earlier debates persisted even after the crater discovery because the ecological trend prior to the impact remained unclear.
Southern Fossils Show Late Cretaceous Diversity
- New, accurately dated New Mexico fossils show many dinosaur groups present right before the extinction.
- Steve Brusatte argues this supports a sudden extinction instead of a long-term decline.
Diversity Is Underestimated Even In Famous Sites
- Dinosaur diversity estimates can be biased by incomplete sampling and misidentification.
- Lindsay Zanno emphasizes underestimation of true species richness even in well-studied regions.