An asteroid’s timing

The timing of a huge asteroid that struck Earth about 66 million years ago explains why some living things survived while 76% of all life-forms died out, scientists in Europe said. After a giant blast of heat and fire, dust and ash blocked the Sun, plunging a cold planet into darkness. The research found that the asteroid struck in spring for the northern half of Earth—when many animals were emerging from snug winter burrows that might otherwise have protected them. Most of those animals went extinct (no longer exist). Smaller animals in the southern hemisphere, however, were most likely already in their winter shelters when the asteroid struck. These are the animals that survived. When they emerged months later into a changed planet, those that could find food would have…

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The Week Junior US (Digital) - 1 Issue, Issue 141

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