German scientists have discovered new evidence that supports the theory that the asteroid responsible for wiping out the dinosaurs 66 million years ago originated from the outer limits of the solar system. The researchers from the University of Cologne found traces of ruthenium, a rare element abundant in asteroids but rare in Earth’s crust, in remnants of the Chicxulub impactor. This strengthens the case that the space rock came from beyond the orbit of Jupiter.
The Chicxulub impactor is believed to have caused mass extinction by altering the planet’s climate and creating the Chicxulub crater in Mexico. The impact released dust particles that spread globally, allowing scientists to collect samples from European regions and find evidence of ruthenium. The researchers ruled out the possibility that the impactor was an icy comet and concluded that it was a metal and rocky asteroid from the outer solar system.
The study supports the theory that the dinosaur extinction was caused by the impact of an asteroid rather than volcanic activity at the Deccan Traps in India. The researchers suggest that the asteroid impact was a rare and unique event in geological time that sealed the fate of the dinosaurs and many other species. The findings, published in Science, add to the ongoing debate over the cause of the mass extinction event and shed light on the origins of the asteroid that ended the reign of non-avian dinosaurs.
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