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Dinosaurs Died Within Hours of Asteroid Impact, says New Study

Posted by CowboyNeal on from the sudden-climate-changes dept.

colonist writes "SPACE.com reports that most dinosaurs were incinerated within hours by the 'heat pulse' of an asteroid impact 65 million years ago. The study 'Survival in the first hours of the Cenozoic' presents a scenario where the only survivors were underground or were underwater in swamps or oceans. All unprotected creatures were 'baked by the equivalent of a global oven set on broil.'"

19 of 862 comments (clear)

  1. Dino-burgers by nightsweat · · Score: 5, Funny

    An appropriate post for the Memorial Day weekend. Imagine the world's largest barbeque.

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    the major advances in civilization are processes which all but wreck the societies in which they occur - A.N. White
    1. Re:Dino-burgers by cosmo7 · · Score: 4, Funny

      Ingredients
      20-30 million dinosaurs (various species)
      Iridium seasoning
      Garlic salt
      Chili powder

      Directions
      Place the dinosaurs in an oven-safe planet. Shake the seasonings until all the dinosaurs are evenly covered with a light layer of iridium. On top of that, shake on a little bit of garlic spice (not too much since it is salt). On top of that, add a few hearty shakes of chili powder to cover the animals lightly. Place the planet in the oven on the broil setting. It's important to place the planet in the middle of the oven so that it is not too close to the top broilers or it will burn. Let the dinosaurs cook for about 15 minutes on one side or until they start to get a little bit crisp. Flip the dinosaurs over in the planet and spice the back side like you spiced the front. Toss them back in the oven for another 10 minutes or until slightly crisp. Pull the planet out of the oven and flip the dinosaurs over a few times in the juice.

      Feeds 2-3 billion.

    2. Re:Dino-burgers by sharkey · · Score: 5, Funny
      Imagine the world's largest barbeque.

      Mmmmm. Ribs big enough to tip over your car at the drive-in.

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      --
      "Outlook not so good." That magic 8-ball knows everything! I'll ask about Exchange Server next.
  2. Broil? by turgid · · Score: 4, Funny

    For us ignorant Brits, wthat's that in Gas Mark?

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    Stick Men
    1. Re:Broil? by yobbo · · Score: 5, Funny

      But really, all this fancy language is another way of explaining the ovbious:

      The dinosaurs got 0wned. Real bad.

  3. RTFA by lexsco · · Score: 5, Funny

    I'd like to RTFA, I really would !

  4. too bad for the dinosaurs by chaos421 · · Score: 5, Funny

    it's too bad their all-star oil drilling team didn't quite make it in time...

  5. Pot Smokers Rejoice! by Goalie_Ca · · Score: 4, Funny

    At least the dinosaurs went out baked!

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    Go canucks, habs, and sens!
  6. Gary Larson Lied! by mythosaz · · Score: 5, Funny

    The real reason dinosaurs became extinct!

  7. Survival by jimmcq · · Score: 5, Funny

    Alright, so what do I need to survive the next major asteroid impact of this magnatude? It sounds like most buildings won't be sufficient protection.

    Do I need a cave to hide in? Should I go to a large body of water?

  8. Mmmm, Broiled Dino by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    The Emeril Lagassaurus Rex would have added some prehistoric garlic when he saw the meteor coming...then BAM!!!! Another notch!

  9. I'd say some died instantly by scdeimos · · Score: 5, Funny

    "Hey, Lou, what the F is " *SPLAT*

  10. Thank God by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    I think we can now all breathe a huge sigh of relief as we know the dinosaurs did not, I repeat, did NOT suffer. We will all gain a few hours of sleep a night, I'm sure.

  11. Oven set on broil. by superdude72 · · Score: 5, Funny

    All unprotected creatures were 'baked by the equivalent of a global oven set on broil.'"

    Thanks for the metaphor. This "heated air" concept is difficult to get across to the layperson.

  12. Re:2 Marks from.... by Rorschach1 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Zubenelgenubi is a double star. Which one do you mean? Assuming you're talking about the hotter one, Alpha-2, that'd be about 583.

  13. Re:The important question... by 0xffffffff · · Score: 5, Funny

    There is a theory that the earth was lighter back then, which let heavier animals thrive. It's an interesting theory - it also says that the Pangea continent covered the whole earth (not just one side) since the earth was ~40% of it's current size, and that it grew by collecting space debris over time. Someone should do the math concerning muscle efficiency and this ancient mass of the earth and see if it works out.

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    -- This sentence is false.
  14. Great... by kaizenfury7 · · Score: 5, Funny

    So now we have prior art for animal crackers.

  15. Re:Correct me if I'm wrong. by MoeDrippins · · Score: 4, Funny

    > Before and after Chicxulub Earth was experiencing a lot of volcanic activity. So much in fact, that the compositiom of the atmosphere was changing. As I recall the oxygen content was reducing from 30% down to 24% (I'm sure these are not the exact numbers, but they are close).


    Wow, how old ARE you?

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    Before you design for reuse, make sure to design it for use.
  16. Duck And Cover by dummondwhu · · Score: 5, Funny

    Obviously, the dinosaurs were ignorant of the "Duck And Cover" method for surviving an incinerating holocaust. Or is that only for nukes?