Posted on 03/04/2010 1:37:39 PM PST by Free ThinkerNY
LONDON (Reuters) - A giant asteroid smashing into Earth is the only plausible explanation for the extinction of the dinosaurs, a global scientific team said on Thursday, hoping to settle a row that has divided experts for decades.
A panel of 41 scientists from across the world reviewed 20 years' worth of research to try to confirm the cause of the so-called Cretaceous-Tertiary (KT) extinction, which created a "hellish environment" around 65 million years ago and wiped out more than half of all species on the planet.
Scientific opinion was split over whether the extinction was caused by an asteroid or by volcanic activity in the Deccan Traps in what is now India, where there were a series of super volcanic eruptions that lasted around 1.5 million years.
The new study, conducted by scientists from Europe, the United States, Mexico, Canada and Japan and published in the journal Science, found that a 15-kilometre (9 miles) wide asteroid slamming into Earth at Chicxulub in what is now Mexico was the culprit.
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
global warming.....
And the prior dino extinctions? Probably those damned auto factories.
Wow, does this mean we have "consensus".
The Young Earth believers are not going to be happy about this
Dinosaurs will be pleased.
I thought the problem with the asteroid theory is that they keep finding dinosaur bones above the layer set down by the asteroid strike.
Ok, let them say “the science is settled” on this one. It’s not going to lead to a $200 trillion tax on the global economy. (Is it?)
bookmark
“A giant asteroid smashing into Earth is the only plausible explanation for the extinction of the dinosaurs, a global scientific team said on Thursday”
While this is a plausible explanation, it is just a plausible that gravity increased during this period crushing giant beasts with bird like skeletons. No one to date has provided any demonstrateable proof one way or the other, so I think this may still be in the I don’t know category.
That must have a bad day.
How long will it take the next species to determine what sent us into extinction?
Dinosaurs, women hardest hit.
Well, if Reuters says so, it must be so.
Much like electricity follows the path of least resistance, scientific theory is comprised on a similar concept of following the path of greatest financial gain.
In other news - Global Warming was a hoax.
Consensus again? As with Global Warming?
They are lying. I have done extensive research since Friday and without revealing the data, I can say without equivocation : The demise of the dinosaur species was due to sun spot activity over a protracted period, diminishing food supplies of vegetation and prey.
Unable to grow their own vegetable gardens and domesticate livestock the dinosaurs succumbed to inadequate nutritional sustenance -required for large body mass ratios.
They could have had their asteroids surgically removed and they would have felt MUCH better for it!
I know I felt better after MY asteroid surgery.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.