New Clues Reveal Dinosaur-Killing Asteroid's Origin Behind Jupiter
Scientists have long been fascinated by the cataclysmic event that led to the extinction of the dinosaurs 66 million years ago, and now, a new study has shed light on the mysterious origin of the asteroid that wiped them out. According to researchers, the asteroid responsible for creating the Chicxulub crater on Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula likely originated from the outer regions of our solar system, specifically from an orbit beyond Jupiter. The research, published in *LiveScience*, reveals that the key to understanding the asteroid's origin lies in the discovery of ruthenium isotopes within the Chicxulub crater. Ruthenium, a rare element, is predominantly found in asteroids located between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. This discovery provides critical evidence that the asteroid hailed from a region known for harboring carbonaceous chondrites—C-type meteorites rich in carbon and water. By analyzing ruthenium isotopes from not only the Chicxulub impact site but also from fiv