This meteorite impacted Earth during its early stages, a planet mostly covered in water with only a few land masses visible above the ocean.
Drabon mentioned that the site investigation focused on finding spherule particles and small rock fragments left behind by the meteorite collision.
The team gathered 220 pounds of rock samples and brought them back to the laboratory for analysis.
Scientists have confirmed that a massive meteorite triggered a tsunami on Earth. The impact’s heat led to the ocean’s top layers boiling, while also heating the atmosphere.
Evidence in rocks indicated that the tsunami disrupted nutrients like iron and phosphorus.
Moreover, there was partial evaporation and darkness in the ocean, potentially impacting shallow-sea photosynthetic microorganisms in the short term.
Deep-sea life, however, seemed less affected.
John Wade, an associate professor of planetary materials at the University of Oxford, emphasized the importance of the distribution of iron-rich water in the early stages of life.
While iron is abundant on Earth, most of it is locked within the planet’s core, significantly deep underground, Wade explained.
Nevertheless, living beings rely on iron for survival, with only a few exceptions like lactic acid bacteria and the Lyme disease-causing Borrelia burgdorferi.
This led to a temporary increase in microorganisms that utilize iron.
The study gained global media attention, surprising the research team with its widespread interest.
“The response to our paper has been overwhelming, and it seems dinosaurs played a part in that,” Knoll remarked.
“I am thrilled by the impact of my research and appreciate the significance it holds for the scientific community,” Drabon expressed. “It’s truly rewarding to see the general public’s interest in our work as well.”
Source: www.nbcnews.com
