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Dinosaur extinction shaped fruit evolution, influencing diets and ecosystems, including those of human ancestors.

The Chicxulub meteorite impact, rather than volcanic activity, was the principal driver behind the extinction of the dinosaurs.

Not everything dies in a mass extinction. Sea life recovered in different and surprising ways after the asteroid strike 66 million years ago. Ancient fossils recorded it all.

A rare type of meteorite known as a CO chondrite was likely the object that slammed into Earth 66 million years ago and triggered the extinction of about 75 percent of all species, including every non-avian dinosaur. Researchers from the University of British Columbia (UBC), Paris, Brussels, and Vienna analyzed nickel isotopes preserved in material left behind by the Cretaceous-Paleogene impact to narrow down the meteorite's origin. The study, published in Science Advances, suggests that the asteroid's unusual chemistry indicates planet-cooling dust and debris, rather than sulfur inside the asteroid, may have caused the mass extinction. CO chondrites contain significantly less volatile elements like carbon, zinc, water, and sulfur compared to other meteorites, making it less likely that sulfur was the primary factor in the catastrophe. Instead, the vast amount of fine debris ejected into the atmosphere is believed to have played a dominant role. The research highlights how analyzing isotopic signatures can help scientists understand the impact's mechanisms and its effects on Earth's ecosystems.

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The Catastrophic Impact of the Asteroid

A study by University College London indicates that the perceived decline in dinosaur diversity before the asteroid impact may be due to gaps in the fossil record, not an actual decrease in species.

Approximately 66 million years ago, the Chicxulub asteroid impact triggered massive global fires, climate shifts, and the extinction of dinosaurs and many other species. However, a new study from the University of Texas at Austin, published in Geology, reveals that life recovered much faster than previously estimated. Researchers, led by Chris Lowery, found that new species of microscopic plankton, such as the foraminifera Parvularugoglobigerina eugubina (P. eugubina), emerged within just a few thousand years—possibly under 2,000 years—after the disaster. This rapid evolution contrasts sharply with typical speciation timelines that span millions of years. The team refined the recovery timeline using helium-3 isotope concentrations in ocean sediments from six K/Pg boundary sites across Europe, North Africa, and the Gulf of Mexico. Helium-3 accumulates steadily, allowing precise sedimentation rate calculations despite post-impact disruptions like increased erosion from vegetation loss and the disappearance of calcareous plankton. These changes had previously skewed estimates, suggesting recovery took tens of thousands of years. The study indicates 10 to 20 new foraminifera species appeared within about 6,000 years, highlighting life's resilience. Co-author Timothy Bralower from Penn State noted this 'geologic heartbeat' recovery offers hope for modern ecosystems facing anthropogenic threats.