Dinosaur extinction: a new theory that turns everything upside down

The researchers found evidence suggesting that the dust remained in Earth’s atmosphere for about 15 years after the asteroid impact, causing the global temperature to drop significantly by 24 degrees Celsius.

A new hypothesis has emerged that challenges old theories about its occurrence Mass extinction Of dinosaurs. This is n Pioneering researchpublished in the journal Nature Geoscience, says that A Huge cloud of dust Maybe it was S The main factor behind the extinction of dinosaursEarth’s climate changes over a long period.

The study focuses on a detailed examination of the sedimentary layers at the Tanis site North Dakota. The researchers found evidence suggesting that the dust remained in Earth’s atmosphere for about 15 years after the asteroid impact, causing the global temperature to drop dramatically by 24 degrees Celsius and halting photosynthesis for two years.

the Washington Post He described the immediate consequences of the asteroid impact as creating a “horrific dust cloud.” Jim Burke Senel, a scientist at the Royal Belgian Observatory and lead author of the study, analyzed this fact. He said that the continued presence of dust in the atmosphere may disrupt it Photosynthesis To the point that it can cause a domino effect, culminating in the mass extinction of various species that depend on the food chain.

While scientists agree that an asteroid impact in the Gulf of Mexico was the catalyst for this mass extinction, wiping out nearly three-quarters of Earth’s species, the exact details of the climate catastrophe that followed have remained elusive. Previous models suggested that the resulting cloud blocked sunlight, leading to global fires and the release of sulfate aerosols, radically changing the planet’s climate.

However, the duration of this sunlight-blocking phase and its precise contribution to the widespread destruction have been debated. Through a combination of computer simulations and sediment analysis, the research team suggests that dust particles, which are similar in size to tiny bacteria, would be more effective at blocking sunlight than soot or sulfur aerosols.

David Kring, a planetary scientist who was not involved in the study, emphasizes the importance of the duration of darkness. He explains that a long period without photosynthesis is a plausible explanation for an extinction event if it lasts long enough to significantly disrupt the food chain.