Chapter 10 — Science & Nature
Why did the dinosaurs go extinct?
A 10–15 km asteroid struck what's now Mexico 66 million years ago. The impact triggered wildfires, blocked sunlight for years, and collapsed food chains. Non-avian dinosaurs died; birds — modern dinosaurs — survived.
Follow-up questions
Wait, birds are dinosaurs?
Yes — theropod dinosaurs. The T. rex is closer to a chicken than a lizard.
Could it happen again?
Statistically, yes — impacts that size hit every ~100 million years. NASA now tracks near-Earth objects and demonstrated deflection with the DART mission.
What was the biggest dinosaur?
Argentinosaurus — an estimated 30–35 metres long and 75+ tonnes.
Did all dinosaurs live together?
No — T. rex is closer in time to us than to Stegosaurus. The Mesozoic spans 180 million years.
Any dinosaurs left?
Every bird is technically a dinosaur — theropods, same family as T-rex.
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