When I was growing up, science had not come to a definitive conclusion regarding why the dinosaurs died. Research over the last decade or so has increasingly pointed to an asteroid impact in the Yucatn Peninsula. Most scientists are now in agreement that this impact was the cause of the mass extinction, but there is still controversy over the exact method by which everything died. The three leading theories are
- Dust in atmosphere blocks sunlight.
- Sulfur in atmosphere blocks sunlight and causes acid rain.
- Heat of asteroid and debris causes global wildfires.
National Geographic is reporting that satellite radar images show a definite impact crater. The article has informative links to additional information sources, including the possibility of another such strike in the future.