Volcanoes Killed The Dinosaurs, New Evidence Suggests

Accepted theory holds that the dinosaurs became extinct after a large asteroid crashed into Earth, rending the environment uninhabitable. However, that theory is facing a serious challenge as evidence mounts that it may have been massive volcanic eruptions in India that ended the species:

Huge volcanic eruptions that belched sulfur into the air for around 10,000 years could have killed the dinosaurs, according to new evidence unearthed by geologists.

Evidence is accumulating that it wasn't an asteroid that did the beasts in, but volcanoes -- the first real challenge the extinction theory has met in three decades.

A combination of studies on dinosaur fossils, magnetic signatures in rocks and the timing of the disappearance of different species suggest it was volcanoes, not an asteroid, that caused the dinosaurs' extinction.

"We're discovering ... amazingly large flows, amazingly short time scales and amazing volcanic (eruptions)," said Vincent Courtillot of the University of Paris, who is is presenting new evidence for the volcano theory this week at the American Geophysical Union conference here.

In related news, scientists have discovered new dinosaurs in the Sahara desert, in what they deem to be an astonishing prehistoric "river of the giants":

A prehistoric 'river of the giants' that was once home to gigantic fish, towering dinosaurs and 60 foot long crocodiles has been unearthed by British fossil hunters.

The river - as wide as the Danube - flowed across the Sahara desert 100 million years ago, surrounded by lush forests, waterways and lakes.

The site has yielded some of the most exciting African prehistoric finds in years - including the tip of a giant flying reptile's beak and a limb bone from a 65 foot long plant-eating dinosaur. Both are thought to be new species.

Other finds include the remains of a crocodile the length of two double deckers, two inch long scales shed by an freshwater predatory fish, and teeth from a massive sawfish.

Rare dinosaur footprints were also found at the site, near the Algerian border in south-east Morocco.

Comments

[leochar18]

I don't have a problem with the scientific method, I have a problem with those who try and use it as proof that science is perfect and the only truth. It' s not a truth if it can be proven wrong, it's a theory.

[DiligentPirate]

Science acknowledges that it isn't perfect. And real scientists are positively giddy about that fact that someday a new perspective on how things work could be discovered and completely change everything that has ever been done on explaining what is trying to be explained.

This is coming from someone who thinks that science is the best method for explaining the world we live in.

My diagnosis -- watch less fox news and read more books.

[GuyRC]

If you are saying that the Bible is literal truth, or that belief in the bible is no different than belief in theories developed through scientific methods then you have a problem with me.

[BlackWidowPilot]

You have by your own admission demonstrated that you have no *understanding* of the Scientific Method or how it actually functions, by your own misuse of the term *theory.*

Leland R. Erickson

Citizen

[KoolBreez]

I think you are confusing 'hypothesis' with 'theory'. 'Theory' in science is similar to 'theorem' , something that can be proven or has been proven..

[cdub1991]

It's not just confusion. He really doesn't know that there is a difference.

[cdub1991]

The self-correcting nature of the scientific method is the entire point of science.

[leochar18]

The that man should not have been a teacher! There are two sides to every story and both sides should be taught- not just one!

[113]

you've got to be kidding me

[johnmorgan]

If you're referring to creationism, that should not be taught to people who want facts and logic.

Nazis can claim that no Jews were killed in WWII and that that makes two sides to every story, so it should be taught. Wrong.

[GuyRC]

If scientific theories were just stories like what's in the bible that would make sense.

[MechaMike]

My fifth grade teacher said that he didn't believe in dinosaurs. He would read Bible stories to the class.

[jham710]

That's terrible.

[leochar18]

Let me guess you are one of the arrogant mass that does believe you know exactly what happend and rely on science to provide you with the " evidence" and "facts". LOL! I think that this story is great because it proves that science can always be proven wrong!

[113]

...what?

[JLM73]

Actually, what this story does is provide a great example of the difference between science and religion. When new evidence is discovered, a scientist will alter his viewpoint accordingly. Those who believe the Bible is the literal truth, on the other hand, will completely ignore any and all evidence that challenges their beliefs. They make up ridiculous rationalizations like "Satan created these fossils in his secret lab and placed them in the ground millions of years ago to trick us and lead us away from god"--whatever it takes to convince themselves that their beliefs are correct.
Science is based on physical evidence. It's the only way to answer questions about our planet and universe. The answers may not always be completely accurate, but scientific explanations are far more likely to be correct than a bunch of superstitious myths created 2,000 years ago!

[hotwire]

You mean to tell me Satan made all those fossils? And here I was thinkin' the only thing Satan ever created were Liberals, go figure.

[cvarner]

Let me guess -- you are one of the arrogant, religious masses who believes you know exactly what happened and rely on mythology to provide you with.... Ok, it breaks down there doesn't it?? I mean "evidence", "facts" -- none of that applies.

But that's ok. Have fun believing in whatever stories make you happy.

Just keep that stuff in religion class, not science classs.

[leochar18]

This is a perfect example why those who claim science is truth should consider themselves just as rediculous as those who claim that the bible should be taken as complete and literal truth. Once people realize that nobody knows how humans really came to be and how we have evolved the world will be a happier place. Faith and Science are the same thing, claimed truths based on assumptions made by people who were not there. Netiher system can be proven without a shadow of doubt lingering in certain areas of it's "proof." Believe what you want about this life, who your God is, and how Humans came to be. But, don't act arrogant and stupid enought to think that your belief is some how better proven or more intelligent in it's design then another. Science is proven wrong and right everyday, Religion causes people to kill in it's name and it inspires people to do great works everyday that make this place a better world. What's the right answer? Who is right ? Who is wrong? Does it really matter!

[Exusian]

"Faith and Science are the same thing"

Such deep and compelling wisdom.

Not.

One is based on physical evidence and quite willing to change as new evidence comes to light.

The other is based on steadfast belief, regardless of any and all evidence.

[MinasTirith]

Agreed.

In fact, curiously, the more evidence is thrown against Faith, the more Faith feels it is right, with the ever powerful justification of 'Because' as the answer.

It's the only system I know of in which the more facts one gathers, the less those with Faith, claim they prove.

[Geodesic17]

"Science is proven wrong and right everyday..­"

Yep. It is called the scientific method. Theories are re-evaluated as new evidence is discovered. The big picture gets corrected and refined as new evidence comes to light. What is your problem with this?

[UnknownSoldier]

You are too angry to be reasoned with. How can religion cause people to kill? Charles Manson caused people to kill, is he a god know too. If you want to believe in "Invisible Man in the Sky Theory" then go right ahead.

I notice how you conviently lefft out that this is an argument between scientist, and not an argument between "Invisible Man in the Sky" believers and scientist.

[RTIII]

No real scientist ever said "science is truth."

What scientists DO say is that we have a method for understanding the world that's based on objective data and what scientists "know" are conceptions that fit that objective data. When some data doesn't fit established concepts, we reexamine those concepts and the data that supports them. Through this process of refinement, we can be pretty sure of things, but the word "truth" is not involved.

We call these conceptions theories but don't take that word to mean the effects they describe aren't real. For example, we have a theory of gravity and that theory may be wrong, but there clearly _is_ something we call gravity. Similarly, the theory of evolution isn't "just" a theory in the same sense - the theory has and will continue to change as we collect more data and proceed through the refinement process, but it is by now very well established that there's something going on that the conception we call the theory of evolution matches up extraordinarily well at describing.
.

[2bad]

I understand some people live with their head in the sand, it's your choice. Science is about eliminating possibilities to find truth. Belief in a "god" came about by man's inability to explain natural phenomenon. There is no comparison between science and religious dogma. And yes, it does matter very much!

[fdanconia]

If only Al Gore had been there, he could have warned the dinosaurs about the impending doom and maybe they could have put emissions limits on the volcanoes.

[BlackWidowPilot]

Um, you received your training in The Scientific Method *where?*

Leland R. Erickson

Citizen

[Gray Amaranth]

I'm almost positive fdanconia was making a joke.

[RedInGeorgia]

As some have said, this theory and the Asteroid Impact theory as not necessarily mutually exclusive.

The fossil record indicates that by 65 MYA, when the dinosaurs died out, the dinosaurs were already in decline. Basically claiming that while the diversity of dinosaur species at this time was large, the actual total population had been in decline. This has led some scientists to speculate that there was some some process causing the decline in population, and that (as one poster as noted) the impact event was the straw that broke the dinosaur's back.

I would tend to believe that the volcanic eruptions that produced the Deccan Flows in India (over tens of thousands of years) were contributing significantly to climate change from the amounts of gases being released in to the atmosphere. This would put pressure on vegatation, thus impacting the herbiviores, in turn impacting the carnivores. These pressures could explain the shrinking global populations as reflected in the fossil record. Then, at 65MYA the impact event happened. The catastrophic events unleashed by this could have pushed a stressed population over the brink.

I believe this because the volcanic theory doesn't explain why the fossil record doesn't show a more gradual disappearance of the dinosaurs, if the eruptions had been occurring over tens of thousands of years. The 65MYA "line in the sand" for dinosaur fossils and VERY UNIFORM throughout the world. WIthout this, we could expect to see fossils from some environments to occur more recently than 65MYA.

[cdub1991]

This is exactly the current working hypothesis that I've heard. The asteroid strike was just the final tipping point.

[pagangrandma]

Is it possible that the asteroid impact caused the Deccan Trapps to erupt, as the earth "rang like a bell" on the other side from the impact?

[danielsadicario]

Ironic how another wave of life will soon be wiped out from stuff being "belched" into the air.

[boomer1949]

Has anyone sent a memo to Gov. Palin?

[boing007]

boomer1949

Has anyone sent a memo to Gov. Palin?

By all means, do.

[mathme]

Oh! I KNEW this was going to end up somehow being Indiana's fault! Damn you Hoosiers!

[MajorKong]

The dinosaurs were on the second ark, which sank. The third ark, loaded with marsupials, was blown off course and ended up in Australia.

[jalama]

Thank God it wasn't global warming. I was getting worried.

[BlackWidowPilot]

See, I knew it was because Noah didn't run his ships in a convoy like the Lord told him to in Genesis!

Egotistical prophets always runnin' off and doing their own thing... I mean really, He's only The Supreme Being, fer cryin' out loud, so what could He know?!

Leland R. Erickson

Citizen

[ElBorba]

Oh come on . . The dinosaurs were all killed by cavemen less than 4000 years ago . .

The truly sad and pathetic part is that about 20% of Americans (that's about 60 MILLION Americans) believe the above to be true . .

[insanityfollows]

While this is very compelling, in Sarah Palin's and Mike Huckabee's world this can't be more than roughly 6000 years ago, not 100 million. They believe that dinosaurs and people lived together. Did they find any arrowheads or people skulls? I swear, I can't believe that you can practice a religion that allows you to throw reason out of the window. To me, that is an insult to God. He blessed us with this huge brain and curiosity. To not use those assets is a pure waste. How does that represent us to Him?

[hotwire]

I don't think he gives a crap one way or another.

[insanityfollows]

Cynical, are we?

[slbailey1]

A show on the History Channel put foreth the theory that it was a combination of an asteroid and volcanic eruptions happening around the same time.

[Tom95134]

Well, if you consider the theory that impact shock from a meteor strike may be focused on the opposite side of the world then one could cause the other to happen.

[RTIII]

Yes, as could a direct strike on an already high-pressure region.
.

[newshawk14]

Before jumping on the theory that the eruption of the Deccan Traps and a asteroid collision
are related, in the last number of years there have been discovered what are called super
volcanoes. We have one of our own in the Yellowstone NP region, that appears to erupt
about every 600K years. The eruptions are so large, that they can significantly affect North
America. The Deccan Traps eruption could simply be due to plate tectonics or moving over
a hot mantle plume.

[cdub1991]

Traps and super volcanoes are different types of events. Traps are massive, slow, continuous eruptions that occur pretty much continuously over thousands or millions of years, as opposed to an eruption at a single point in time. There was another one in Siberia that is thought to be the partial cause of a previous mass extinction.

[boing007]

A show on the History Channel put foreth the theory that it was a combination of an asteroid and volcanic eruptions happening around the same time.

Maybe the after shocks of the asteroid impact caused a rippling effect. The tsunami that hit a few years ago was triggered by a shifting tectonic plate in the ocean floor.

[normalkid0615]

Dinosaurs? What is a dinosaur?

-Palin

[Tom95134]

They are large animals with very small brains. We know them today as Republicans.

[CranialRectalLoopback]

I'll get back to you on that.

[seanosul]

In what respect?