TED Radio Hour The day the dinosaurs died
78 snips
May 9, 2025 
Ken Lacovara, a paleontologist and founding dean of the School of Earth and Environment at Rowan University, shares thrilling insights about the day the dinosaurs died. He discusses a significant fossil site in New Jersey that reveals ancient ecosystems and the catastrophic asteroid impact. Listeners will be captivated by his personal stories of fossil hunting adventures and the transformation of a quarry into the Edelman Fossil Park. Lacovara emphasizes the importance of education, public engagement, and the joyful excitement of uncovering prehistoric life.
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Asteroid's Deadly Heat Wave
- The asteroid impact 66 million years ago caused global temperatures to rise quickly, akin to a toaster oven to pizza oven.
- This heat wave likely made dinosaurs functionally extinct within an hour due to lack of shelter.
Field Work Gives Ken Purpose
- Despite harsh field conditions and discomforts, Ken feels most himself when digging up dinosaurs.
- The discomfort fades compared to the joy of seeing fossils no human has seen before.
How to Find Dinosaurs
- To find dinosaurs, locate sedimentary rocks of the right age that are naturally exposed.
- For better finds, go to underexplored places to discover new science.
