The asteroid strike that rang the planet like a bell

Experience the Disaster that Wiped Out Dinosaurs · 4:37 · Video: Science Channel · Watch at the source

In short: Discover the mechanics of the cataclysmic event 66 million years ago that ended the age of dinosaurs. This video explores the physics of the impact and why only a fraction of its energy reached the ground.

When the asteroid struck Earth approximately 66 million years ago, the vast majority of its impact energy—about 99%—was directed outwards and upwards into space. However, the remaining 1% of force traveling into the ground was sufficient to vibrate the entire planet like a bell, creating global shockwaves and tsunamis.

The primary cause of extinction was the intense heat generated on the surface. The video highlights that the only species to survive were those capable of seeking shelter from this extreme thermal energy, marking a permanent shift in the planet's biological trajectory.

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