Could Dinosaurs Still Roam Earth If Not for Extinction?

Roughly 66 million years ago, a massive asteroid strike wiped out dinosaurs from Earth. Scientists now suggest that without this catastrophic event, various dinosaur species might still thrive today. A new study published in Current Biology analyzed over 8,000 fossils from the late Cretaceous period, finding no evidence of declining dinosaur populations before the asteroid hit. Their habitats were stable, and extinction risks were low, indicating dinosaurs were flourishing.

Researchers, including Chris Dean from University College London, noted that half of these fossils were found in North America, where dinosaurs showed significant diversity and resilience. “Our findings reveal that dinosaurs were doing well before the asteroid strike, with diverse species thriving across different regions,” Dean said. Geological records also point to a rich variety of dinosaur species.

Alessandro Chiarenza, another scientist, added, “There was likely no inevitable extinction for dinosaurs at the end of the Mesozoic era. Without the asteroid, they could have coexisted with mammals.” The study challenges the idea that dinosaurs were on the brink of extinction, suggesting a world where they might still exist.

Source: The Independent