German scientists from the University of Cologne believe they have found evidence that the giant asteroid that wiped out the dinosaurs 66 million years ago originated from the outer limits of the solar system. By studying remnants of the space rock collected in Europe, the researchers found ruthenium, a rare element that is abundant in asteroids but extremely rare in Earth’s crust. This finding strengthens the case that the space rock was part of a group of asteroids that formed beyond Jupiter’s orbit.
The impact of the Chicxulub asteroid is widely believed to be responsible for the mass extinction of the dinosaurs. The impact released dust particles that formed a layer of sediment around the globe, allowing the researchers to collect samples from European regions of Earth’s crust. The presence of ruthenium in the sediment confirms that the asteroid came from the outer solar system and was not an icy comet.
The debate over what caused the mass extinction of dinosaurs has long included theories of volcanic eruptions at the Deccan Traps in India and the impact of the Chicxulub asteroid. However, the recent study led by Mario Fischer-Gödde and Carsten Münker provides strong evidence to support the asteroid impact theory. The researchers conclude that the fate of the dinosaurs and many other species was sealed by this rare and unique event from the outer reaches of the solar system. The findings were published in the journal Science.
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