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Mystery of Dinosaurs | How Did They Become Extinct? | Dhruv Rathee

Dhruv Rathee・17 minutes read

Dinosaurs ruled Earth for over 170 million years, with new species identified annually and an asteroid strike causing their extinction 66 million years ago. The current mass extinction event, caused by human activities, threatens biodiversity, with global efforts aiming to mitigate the crisis by 2030.

Insights

  • Dinosaurs, originating around 230-240 million years ago, ruled Earth for over 170 million years, with the Cretaceous period being the most diverse before an asteroid strike led to their extinction 66 million years ago.
  • Birds, considered descendants of dinosaurs, evolved from flying dinosaurs like Archaeopteryx, with studies identifying chickens and ostriches as the closest living relatives to dinosaurs, showcasing the evolutionary link between these ancient creatures and modern avian species.

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Recent questions

  • What is the origin of the word 'Dinosaur'?

    Greek

  • How long did dinosaurs rule Earth?

    170 million years

  • What event led to the extinction of most dinosaurs?

    Asteroid impact

  • What allowed mammals to evolve after dinosaurs?

    Paleogene period

  • What are birds considered as descendants of?

    Dinosaurs

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Summary

00:00

"Dinosaurs: Ancient rulers, bird descendants, extinction"

  • Dinosaurs ruled Earth for over 170 million years, with some reaching heights taller than buildings and speeds of 90km/hr.
  • The word 'Dinosaur' originates from Greek, meaning 'Terrible Lizard,' first used in 1841 by Richard Owen.
  • Over 10,000 dinosaur fossils have been discovered globally, with 45 new species identified annually from 2003 to 2022.
  • The first dinosaurs emerged around 230-240 million years ago during the Triassic Period on the supercontinent Pangaea.
  • The Triassic-Jurassic Extinction Event led to the end of the Triassic period, with volcanic eruptions causing global warming and extinction.
  • The Jurassic period saw the emergence of large dinosaurs like Titanosaurus and flying dinosaurs like Archaeopteryx.
  • The Cretaceous period was the most diverse for dinosaurs, with species like T-Rex and Argentinosaurus existing until an asteroid strike 66 million years ago.
  • The asteroid impact caused immediate devastation, followed by long-term effects like a nuclear winter, leading to the extinction of most dinosaurs.
  • The Paleogene period followed, allowing mammals to evolve and fill the ecological gap left by dinosaurs, leading to the emergence of birds from flying dinosaurs.
  • Birds are considered descendants of dinosaurs, with studies showing chickens and ostriches as the closest living relatives to dinosaurs.

16:34

Asteroid impact, extinction threat, and biodiversity protection.

  • Iridium, a rare mineral found in high concentrations on Earth's surface, helped scientists determine that an asteroid impact occurred 66 million years ago, spreading the mineral globally.
  • The impact crater of the asteroid that caused the mass extinction event, which is hidden in the Yucatan Peninsula, can be observed through the ring formation of cenotes, now popular tourist attractions.
  • NASA and other space agencies track Near Earth Asteroids, with over 28,000 identified as of April 2022, and have launched missions like DART to alter the path of potential impact asteroids.
  • The current mass extinction event, caused by human activities like deforestation and pollution, poses a significant threat to biodiversity, with efforts like the UN Convention on Biological Diversity aiming to mitigate the crisis by setting targets for protection and pollution reduction by 2030.
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