The End of the Dinosaurs gives a detailed account of the great mass extinction that rocked the Earth 65 million years ago, and focuses on the discovery of the culprit: the Chicxulub impact crater in Mexico. It recounts the birth of the cosmic hypothesis, the controversy that preceded its acceptance, the search for the crater, its discovery and ongoing exploration, and the effect of the giant impact on the biosphere. Other mass extinctions in the fossil record are reviewed, as is the threat of asteroids and comets to our planet today. The account of the impact and its aftermath is suitable for general readers. The description of the crater geology is in enough detail to interest students of the earth sciences. A detailed index and bibliography are included.
Table of contents:
1. The night of the dinosaurs; 2. A detective's diary; 3. A controversial idea; 4. Looking for the crater; 5. Chicxulub Crater; 6. A Cataclysmic Event; 7. Waiting for the comet.
A cosmic crash 65 million years ago wiped out the dinosaurs, killed two-thirds of life on Earth, and left a crater now buried off the coast of Mexico. In this thrilling scientific detective story, Frankel brilliantly unfolds our present knowledge of this cosmic impact and aftermath.
Thrilling account of how we discovered the impact crater of the comet that wiped out the dinosaurs.
Table of contents:
1. The night of the dinosaurs; 2. A detective's diary; 3. A controversial idea; 4. Looking for the crater; 5. Chicxulub Crater; 6. A Cataclysmic Event; 7. Waiting for the comet.
A cosmic crash 65 million years ago wiped out the dinosaurs, killed two-thirds of life on Earth, and left a crater now buried off the coast of Mexico. In this thrilling scientific detective story, Frankel brilliantly unfolds our present knowledge of this cosmic impact and aftermath.
Thrilling account of how we discovered the impact crater of the comet that wiped out the dinosaurs.