Jan 21 2024
The discovery of the Chicxulub crater in the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico supports this theory. The layer of sediment at the boundary between the Cretaceous and Paleogene periods contains high levels of iridium, a metal rare in Earth's crust but abundant in asteroids and comets.
The timing of the Deccan Traps eruptions correlates with the extinction event, and volcanic rocks and ash deposits from this period have been found globally.
Analysis of sedimentary layers and fossil records indicates shifts in sea levels and climate during the late Cretaceous period.
While there is limited direct evidence for diseases in the fossil record, some researchers propose that indirect signs, such as stress indicators in fossils, might suggest disease-related factors.
The complexity of ecosystems and the interplay of various environmental factors during this time make it plausible that a combination of stressors led to the mass extinction.