Saturday, September 26, 2009

Mass Extinction Event Spared Europe (Mostly)

Moment of Impact
An artist's illustration of the comet crashing into the Yucatan Peninsula. The comet impact that wiped out the dinosaurs had little effect on life in Europe, according to a new study of fossil evidence. NASA

From Discovery News:

When a comet crashed into the Yucatan Peninsula 65 million years ago, all hell broke loose. Scientists have guessed at the scene: a world enshrouded in ashen darkness leftover from the cosmic impact that left almost nothing -- including the dinosaurs -- standing.

But a new study shows that in western Europe at least, the effects were far less terrifying.

Fossil leaves from four million years after the impact show that plants and insects had made a full recovery.

Read more ....

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