Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction event

Definition

This is another mass extinction event that occurred approximately 66 million years ago, marking the end of the Cretaceous Period and the beginning of the Paleogene Period. It's most famous for leading to the extinction of non-avian dinosaurs.

Analogy

Imagine if all your favorite movie stars suddenly stopped acting - no more movies with them. That's what happened to our planet's "stars" (the dinosaurs) during the Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction event.

Related terms

K-T Boundary: A thin band of sedimentation found in various parts of the world, which marks the boundary between the Cretaceous and Paleogene periods.

Chicxulub Crater: An impact crater on Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula believed to be associated with the asteroid or comet that caused this mass extinction.

Iridium Enrichment: Iridium is a rare element on Earth but common in asteroids and comets. Its high concentration at K-T boundary sites around Earth provides evidence for an extraterrestrial impact causing this mass extinction.