Did Asteroids Kill the Dinosaurs?
In Did Asteroids Kill the Dinosaurs?, naturalist Steve Backshall explains why scientists believe a lethal asteroid was the main cause of extinction of dinosaurs 66 million years ago. While most people know that dinosaurs were wiped out by an asteroid, many may not know that the asteroid alone didn't cause the extinction. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Deadly Dinosaurs, a documentary series in which host Steve Backshall is on the hunt for the deadliest animals to have walked the Earth — dinosaurs — exploring features of several species and putting their abilities to the test to reveal the raw power of these creatures.
Lesson Express
Q: What happened immediately after the asteroid struck?
A: Everything alive within hundreds of miles was killed instantly. There were huge forest fires and hurricane-force winds, but scientists believe that the blast itself was only part of what wiped out the dinosaurs.
Q: What was the location of the asteroid impact?
A: It struck in the sea of Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula, which separates the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea.
Q: What was the after effect of the asteroid that ultimately wiped out dinosaurs?
A: Tons of dust was created, which contained sulfur and could suffocate living things. The dust was so thick that sunlight couldn’t reach the ground, leading to freezing temperatures, plants dying, and the starvation of living things.
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