Around 66 million years ago, a gigantic asteroid smashed into Earth and wreaked chaos globally.
Superheated rock from the impact spewed into the air, creating a mushroom cloud that heated Earth’s upper atmosphere to a scorching 439 degrees Fahrenheit (226 degrees Celsius). Mile-high tsunami waves rushed through the Gulf of Mexico and disturbed ocean basins half a world away. Fires raged, burning animals and plants to a crisp. Shock waves propagated, blasting everything in their path. And particles from the collision, including sulfur, shot upward, blocking the sun and falling down as acid rain.
In all, 75% of Earth’s species went extinct, including the nonavian dinosaurs. So how did some animals — including species of birds, turtles and mammals — survive the catastrophic asteroid collision and its aftermath?
“Writer Fuel” is a series of cool real-world stories that might inspire your little writer heart. Check out our Writer Fuel page on the LimFic blog for more inspiration.
