Researchers have identified a rare type of meteorite as the likely space rock that slammed into Earth 66 million years ago and helped drive the extinction of the dinosaurs. According to the new study, the probable impactor was a CO chondrite, an unusual class of stony meteorite described as an "oddball" compared with more common space rocks.
The impact is widely linked to one of the most devastating mass extinctions in Earth's history. Scientists say the event wiped out roughly 75% of species on the planet, including all nonavian dinosaurs, reshaping life on Earth and opening the way for mammals to rise.
The findings were published in Science Advances, with the research involving scientists at the University of British Columbia. The study adds a new layer to the long-running effort to understand not just when and where the impact happened, but exactly what kind of object struck the planet.
By pointing to a CO chondrite origin, the research gives scientists a more precise picture of the dinosaur-killing impactor. That could help refine broader models of asteroid populations, impact risks, and the kinds of rare objects that have had outsized effects on Earth's history.
