Chicxulub Impactor from Beyond Jupiter Linked to Dinosaur Extinction

Aug 15, 2024, 06:10 PM

Scientists have identified the origins of the asteroid responsible for the extinction event that wiped out the dinosaurs 66 million years ago. Research published in Science indicates that the Chicxulub impactor, which created a massive crater off the coast of Mexico, was a carbon-rich 'C-type' asteroid. This asteroid is believed to have originated from beyond Jupiter, in the outer reaches of the solar system. The findings were supported by isotope analysis, revealing the impactor's exceptionally rare origin. The impact wiped out 75 percent of Earth's species.