Science Friday
What Was It Like To Witness The End Of The Dinosaurs?
Dec 3, 2024
Explore the dramatic aftermath of the asteroid impact that ended the age of dinosaurs. Discover how extreme conditions triggered rapid extinction for some species, while others adapted by retreating underwater or underground. Learn how certain bird species thrived in the post-impact world due to their plant-based diets. Witness the ecological shifts that allowed new habitats to emerge and various species, including mammals, to evolve, paving the way for the development of life as we know it today.
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Quick takeaways
- The immediate aftermath of the asteroid impact resulted in extreme heat and catastrophic environmental changes, decimating non-avian dinosaurs quickly.
- Volcanic activity played a surprising role in the post-extinction recovery by releasing greenhouse gases that mitigated some devastating climate impacts.
Deep dives
The Catastrophic Aftermath of the Impact
The impact of the asteroid that led to the extinction of the dinosaurs created catastrophic environmental changes almost immediately. Within about 24 hours, the air temperature surged to around 500 degrees Fahrenheit, effectively broiling many dinosaurs, including T-Rex. The immense heat pulse caused widespread destruction, igniting many forests and throwing millions of cubic miles of pulverized rock into the atmosphere. This combination of heat and debris dramatically altered the planet's climate, making survival nearly impossible for most non-avian dinosaurs in the immediate aftermath.
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