Jan Smit

Jan Smit, a Dutch geologist and paleontologist with over 40 years of experience, dives deep into the cataclysm that led to the dinosaurs' extinction. He shares how the discovery of a thin clay layer rich in iridium shifted the narrative to an asteroid impact. Jan vividly describes the immense violence of the impact and its planetary aftermath, including firestorms, darkness, and the collapse of marine food webs. He also discusses the evolutionary opportunities that arose for mammals and reflects humorously on humanity's future in the geological record.