Isotope analysis reveals origins of asteroid that wiped out the dinosaurs

Dinosaurs watch a meteor hit the Earth

Source: © Steve Munsinger/Science Photo Library

The end-Cretaceous mass extinction was caused by a ruthenium-rich carbonaceous chondrite asteroid

Isotope analysis reveals that a rare type of asteroid called a carbonaceous chondrite was responsible for the impact that brought about the extinction of the dinosaurs. The researchers behind the discovery also studied other impacts from Earth’s geological history, finding that these were consistent with more common asteroids and meteorites.