Talk:Controversies in Science/What killed the dinosaurs/Experimental evidence that an asteroid impact led to the extinction of many species

65 million years ago, a meteorite hit into the Yucatan Peninsula. The sun was blocked by black air and dust which was caused by acid rain, forest fires, and tsunamis. Dinosaurs could not adapt to this drastic change which caused to become extinct.AnnD9220 (talk)

Although the asteroid theory is valid, it does not provide enough proof that the impact was the cause for the extinction of dinosaurs. There could have been many other factors that caused their demise such as the Chicxulub crater which predates the timing of extinction. Jdzur290 (talk)

The article that was found shows evidence of iridium which comes from outer space. I believe that the massive dust that covered the atmosphere was caused the killing of the dinosaurs because there was not sun light shining on the earth for a period of 3 to 6 months. Vegetation would have gone extinct, so the dinosaurs did not have a habitable environment to survive.Arodr451 (talk) 01:44, 11 April 2012 (UTC)

The first article here speaks about iridium coming from the asteroid, but how exactly do they prove that the cloud of iridium actually is from the asteroid.Bomor394 (talk) 02:04, 11 April 2012 (UTC)

While the presence of iridium in particular layers of the earth does support that layers of dust could have blocked the sun and had detrimental effects on the environment and ecosystem is some areas it does not explain a global extinction of dinosaurs, or species that have evolutionary origins believed to be from dinosaurs continuing after the asteroid. There is also an assumption that global forces such as wind are the same as they are today, and that these global wind forces caused the dust to cover the entire planet.

Alaxative (talk) 05:12, 12 April 2012 (UTC)

The asteroid hitting earth was a large problem that created a even larger problem. I agree that the dust may have had a effect which could have lead to even respiratory issues in many species. But as said above the main problem was the dust blocking out the sun for an extended period; therefore animals need sun for various reasons such as vitamins and plants need sun to help convert their sugars so they can grow and be properly nourished. If plants were unable to grow a lot of species would not eat and many would starve. As well the dust would have been blocking the heat that would lead to these cold blooded animals freezing to death.Sambo1428 (talk)

These findings relate to the article I read regarding the K-PG extinction event in which they believe a asteroid struck the earth projecting dust and debris into the atmosphere combined with an increase in volcanic activity spewing ash into the atmosphere as well. They found that a large number of bird species that were present towards the end of the Cretaceous period were not longer present in the Paleogene. It is reasonable to assume that an increase in ash, dust, and debris in the atmosphere would have a catastrophic effect on the bird population as well as most others. Ecosystems are so intertwined that it doesn't take too much imagination to predict what would happen when certain pieces of the system begin to die.Cgree973 (talk) 23:41, 10 April 2012 (UTC)