What Killed the Dinosaurs? | Natural History Museum

Overview

• The lecture by the Natural History Museum explores the mass extinction event that ended the age of the dinosaurs at the end of the Cretaceous Period.
• The presentation is authored by Sam Rae and Lisa Hendry.

Dinosaur Existence and Extinction

• Dinosaurs existed for 175 million years, evolving into various forms.
• Adaptation was key; those that couldn't adapt went extinct.
• 66 million years ago, dinosaurs, except birds, disappeared.
• Other creatures like pterosaurs, large marine reptiles, and ammonites also went extinct.

The Cretaceous-Paleogene Extinction Event

• A sudden catastrophic event is suggested as the cause of the mass extinction.
• The event caused rapid environmental changes that organisms couldn’t adapt to.

Causes of the Extinction

• Asteroid Impact: Strong evidence supports that an asteroid impact was the primary cause.
• Volcanic Activity: Volcanic eruptions possibly contributed to climate change.
• Climate Change: Gradual climate changes over millions of years may have also played a role.

Consequences of the Extinction

• Left ecological niches open which were filled by birds and mammals.
• Birds are identified as the only surviving dinosaurs.

Additional Resources

• The museum offers further exploration into how an asteroid caused the extinction and other related topics.
• A "Dino Directory" is available to explore over 300 dinosaurs by various categories.

Engaging with the Museum

• The museum encourages questions about science and nature which can be addressed by scientists in their magazine or on YouTube.
• Offers email updates on news, science, exhibitions, and more.

Conclusion

• The extinction event remains a significant area of scientific study.
• Various factors may have contributed, with the asteroid impact being the most accepted cause of dinosaur extinction.