Researchers Finally Discover the Origins of the Dinosaur-Killing Asteroid
We all know that an asteroid that collided with Earth around 66 million years ago ultimately led to the demise of the dinosaurs. What we didn’t know is where that asteroid came from. That is, until now.
Transcript
00:00We all know that an asteroid that collided with Earth around 66 million years ago ultimately
00:08led to the demise of the dinosaurs.
00:11What we didn't know is where that asteroid came from, that is, until now.
00:15Previously, researchers believed it may have been a comet.
00:18However, this new research proves it was in fact an asteroid hailing from the far reaches
00:22of the solar system.
00:24The asteroid was around 6 miles across and slammed into what is now the Yucatan Peninsula.
00:29That impact caused what is now the Chicxulub Crater, a massive displacement of Earth some
00:33120 miles across.
00:35Researchers figured out where the asteroid hailed from by taking samples of sedimentary
00:39rock which lined up with when the asteroid struck.
00:41In those layers, they found high concentrations of platinum group elements.
00:45Those are extremely rare on our planet.
00:48Researchers then cross-analyzed the elements found there with other meteorites, ones that
00:51we knew where they came from.
00:53This not only confirmed that the material was extraterrestrial in origin, but also that
00:57the dinosaur-killing asteroid hailed from beyond Jupiter.