How were scientists able to come to the (pretty much universally accepted) conclusion that it was a meteor that killed the dinosaurs when no one was around to witness it?

Question

Is it even remotely possible it was something else that happened around the same time?

In: 0

Answer 1

One of the ways we’re really sure is because of an unusual element called: Iridium.

Iridium is pretty rare on earth, but about 65 million years ago, for some reason, at the exact same time, we see a mass extinction of the dinosaurs, we also see a highly unusual amount of Iridium. It shouldn’t be there, its pretty rare, it wouldn’t show up like this. But there is a way it could, an asteroid impact. Turns out as well, there’s this meteor crater in the gulf of mexico, dated about 65 million years ago too… seems to fit nicely.