‘The reason we drink wine is because the dinosaurs went extinct’: Researchers discover fossilized grape seeds

This special discovery highlights the link between catastrophic events and the evolution of plant species.

His acquaintances From wine Enjoy the complexity and heritage of a good old fashioned, but you may be surprised to learn that Oldest grape In the world their history goes back to 66 million yearsThis surprising discovery links the beloved drink to an event that reshaped life on Earth: dinosaur extinction.

Last Investigations The global spread of the family has been shown to be Grapes It can be attributed to its effects. The asteroid impact that killed the dinosaursThis event, which marked the end of the Cretaceous period, appears to have paved the way for the proliferation of species. grapes.

Paleontologists have discovered fossilized grape seeds in Colombiafor him Panama And Perudating from 19 to 60 million years agoOne of these species is the oldest known example of grapes in the Western Hemisphere.

«These are the oldest grapes ever found in this part of the world, and are a few million years younger than the oldest grapes found on the other side of the planet.“This is a very interesting finding,” said Fabiani Herrera, lead researcher and paleobotanist. His team’s findings were recently published in the journal Nature Plants.

The oldest known grape seed fossils were discovered in Indiaand is 66 million years old. This timing is significant because it coincides with the estimated time of the asteroid impact that killed the dinosaurs.

This discovery highlights the link between catastrophic events and the evolution of plant species. The extinction of the dinosaurs, often associated with loss and destruction, also facilitated the emergence and global spread of grapevines.