Recent findings published in the August 16 issue of Science reveal that Earth’s infamous asteroid responsible for the extinction of dinosaurs originated from the far reaches of our solar system. Through detailed chemical analyses of rock layers marking the transition between the Cretaceous and Paleogene periods, scientists are piecing together a profile of this cosmic culprit. Geochemist Mario Fischer-Gödde and his team from the University of Cologne in Germany examined five isotopes of ruthenium in the KPg rock layers, impact craters dating back millions of years, and Earth-based platinum ores. Ruthenium, a rare platinum-group element on Earth but common in asteroids, varies in isotopic composition depending on its celestial origin.
2024-08-15 13:01:33
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