Asteroid That Killed the Dinosaurs Came from beyond Jupiter
Scientific AmericanAUG 1 2024
Scientists Discover Second Asteroid Impact From Dinosaur Extinction Era
The Spin
Narrative A
This discovery is a game-changer for understanding Earth's history. Multiple giant asteroid impacts around the same time could have had a cumulative effect on the planet's climate and ecosystems — potentially explaining the severity of the mass extinction event. The detailed imaging of the Nadir crater provides valuable insights into impact processes and their consequences.
Narrative B
While the Nadir crater is significant, it's unclear if it rivals the Chicxulub impact. Its effects could have been localized and it may or may not have contributed significantly to global climate change or mass extinction. When discussing the end-Cretaceous extinction, the focus should remain on the cataclysmic Chicxulub event.
Narrative C
While scientists appear to be understanding the dinosaurs' abrupt extinction, the species was likely on its way out — albeit at a slower rate — without the help of a celestial attack. At the time, the Earth was cooling and turning widespread tropical climates into less vegetative climates. Like most species throughout Earth's history, dinosaurs likely lost their food source.