by Carmen Colin

Created on: July 15, 2008   Last Updated: May 18, 2011

Dinosaur fossils have been found all over the world. Finding these beautiful wonders has raised many questions, and paleontologists have answered these fumbling questions with the evidence that lies in the fossils. One question has been answered, but speculations are still being made. How the dinosaurs died, no one knows for sure. But due to the significant evidence found, the clues all point to one answer.

Around 4.5 billion years ago, the Earth was a big ball of lava. This lava cooled and formed our planet. As it continued to cool, microscopic bacteria started growing. As the years went by, the bacteria, that could only be seen through a microscope, evolved into species that would look down upon us. These dinosaurs roamed the planet aimlessly for a long span of time, evolving as the planet grew older. Then, hurling out of the sky, a meteorite hit the Earth at high velocities, creating a doomsday. The meteorite hit dirt, making the dirt rise. This dirt created a blanket of dirt, blocking out the suns light. If the impact didn't kill the dinosaurs, the cloud of dirt did. The blanket prevented light from reaching plants. This, therefore, prevented plants from growing. Since plants were not growing, the herbivores died of hunger. Once the herbivores started dying, the carnivores and omnivores that depended on the plants and herbivores had nothing to eat, therfore, they died of hunger. As the dirt started falling back to the ground, they settled on the carcasses, and added pressure to the bones. Soon, there was so much dirt on top of the bones, the bones engraved themselves into the dirt, leaving their prints for us to find. Evidence of the asteroid theory might lie in Arizona, were a crater was found. Another theory is somewhat different, and somewhat the same. This theory suggests that a supervolcano erupted, creating an ash cloud. This ash cloud was so great, it covered the entire world, creating an ash blanket. This also blocked out sunlight, creating hunger for both herbivores and carnivores. This is kind of like the Greenhouse Effect. Also, when it rained, the sulfur in the ash bonded with the water, creating acid rain. Mud then compressed the dying or dead dinos, leaving fossils imprinted in the Earth.

Whether the dinosaurs died due to an asteroid or a supervolcano, the fact that this extinction is a mystery will remain the same. One day, we will learn the truth, and until that day comes, the guessing of how the dinosaurs died will remain fun.

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