Posted on 09/14/2009 1:00:22 PM PDT by SunkenCiv
A dinosaur-killing asteroid may have wiped out much of life on Earth 65 million years ago, but now scientists have discovered how smaller organisms might have survived in the darkness following such a catastrophic impact. Survival may have depended upon jack-of-all-trades organisms called mixotrophs that can consume organic matter in the absence of sunlight. That would have proved crucial during the long months of dust and debris blotting out the sun, when plenty of dead or dying organic matter filled the Earth's oceans and lakes...
Jones and her colleagues tested the limits of mixotrophs by subjecting them to six months of low light or complete darkness. The mixotrophs not only thrived, but also surprised researchers by helping sunlight-dependent organisms also survive pitch black conditions.
Scientists have long debated the overall impact of the K-T extinction that may have heralded the end of the dinosaurs, but most researchers agree that such an event would have thrown up enough dust and debris to darken Earth's skies for about six months. A lack of sunlight would have killed off a majority of plants, eliminating the food supply for animals higher up the food chain.
(Excerpt) Read more at livescience.com ...
“If true, the implications are mind boggling.”
I don’t know if it is “mind boggling.”
One could argue evolution-from-common source or creation from-common design using the same evidence.
But it is cool, and should put to rest the “we’re aliens” theory, unless the original alien was a single celled critter.
*sigh* If only dem little guys wuz girls...
http://www.smileyshut.com/Smileys/Smiley-Huts-Free-Girl-Smileys.html
http://www.avatarsplus.com/v/Rude/dancing-girl-in-panties.gif.html
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