Scientists Close in on Identification of Dinosaurs’ Killer Bacteria After 66 Million Years

Scientists investigating the 66-million-year-old Chicxulub impact have moved closer to identifying the specific type of meteorite that wiped out the dinosaurs, according to recent geochemical analyses reported by بوابة أخبار اليوم. The research focuses on distinguishing whether the extinction-level impactor originated from the outer solar system or the inner asteroid belt, utilizing advanced isotopic signatures preserved in impact layers around the globe.

Ruthenium Isotope Variations

Geological data retrieved from impact craters and boundary clay layers worldwide have allowed researchers to measure ruthenium isotope variations with high precision. According to findings highlighted by بوابة أخبار اليوم, these elemental fingerprints match carbonaceous chondrites—meteorites that formed in the outer reaches of the solar system beyond Jupiter—rather than standard stony meteorites native to the inner asteroid belt.

Refining End-Cretaceous Models

The distinction refines decades of paleoclimatological and astrophysical research regarding the end-Cretaceous mass extinction event. Previous models debated whether a comet or an asteroid struck the Yucatán Peninsula, triggering global darkness, massive wildfires, and a sudden collapse of marine and terrestrial ecosystems. The latest ruthenium data points firmly toward an asteroid-class body originating from the outer solar system.

Mapping Global Ejecta Dispersion

Researchers plan to continue analyzing preserved impact ejecta from various global stratigraphic sections to map the dispersion of extraterrestrial material and further verify the trajectory and composition of the ancient body.