A groundbreaking study published in the prestigious journal *Science* has revealed the origins of the asteroid that created the Chicxulub Crater, the impact site believed to have ended the reign of the dinosaurs 66 million years ago. This massive crater, located off the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico, was formed by a six-mile-wide asteroid, causing a cataclysmic event that led to a mass extinction, wiping out the already struggling dinosaur population.
Researchers have meticulously traced the origins of this dino-killing asteroid to the far outer edges of our solar system, beyond the mighty planet Jupiter. The asteroid, according to Mario Fischer-GÜdde, an asteroid and planet origin researcher at the University of Cologne, Germany, was a “C-type asteroid,” meaning it was primarily composed of carbon. Interestingly, C-type asteroids are the most prevalent type, accounting for a staggering 75% of all known asteroids.
The team discovered a unique signature of the element ruthenium within a thin layer of sediment left by the impact event. Ruthenium is a rare element in Earth’s crust, and its presence within the sediment layer directly linked it to the dino-killing asteroid. This discovery provides compelling evidence for the asteroid’s origin and its devastating impact on Earth’s history.
