Produced by: BT Desk Designed by: Manoj Kumar
The Chicxulub mystery
A recent study has revealed that the asteroid responsible for the Chicxulub event, which wiped out the dinosaurs 66 million years ago, came from the outer Solar System, far beyond Jupiter. This discovery offers new insights into Earth’s history and its interactions with distant celestial objects.
An asteroid, not comet?
The study confirms that the impact was caused by an asteroid, not a comet, ruling out previous theories. This asteroid was a carbonaceous chondrite, a rare type originating from the cold, dark regions of the Solar System.
The eraser
The asteroid, about 10 kilometers in diameter, struck the Yucatán Peninsula, creating a massive crater and triggering a wave of extinctions that erased 76% of all animal species on Earth, including the dinosaurs.
Clues in Earth’s layers
Scientists identified the asteroid’s origins by analyzing rare platinum-group elements, such as ruthenium, found in the Earth’s crust at the Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary. These elements matched those found in meteorites, confirming the extraterrestrial origin.
Deccan Traps
The study considered the Deccan Traps, a massive volcanic region active around the same time, as a potential source of these elements. However, the analysis pointed firmly to the asteroid as the source.
Jupiter’s role
Jupiter usually acts as a barrier, preventing most outer Solar System objects from reaching Earth. The Chicxulub asteroid was a rare exception, managing to slip past and cause catastrophic damage.
Unanswered question…
While the study uncovers much about the asteroid’s journey, it leaves unanswered why this particular rock had such a significant impact on Earth’s history. The mystery of its “vendetta” against the dinosaurs remains.
