News Paleontology

New computer analysis hints volcanism killed the dinosaurs, not an asteroid

Scientists take a creative approach to investigating what caused the mass extinction

An illustration of two parasaurolophus walkeri dinosaurs.

The reign of dinosaurs such as Parasaurolophus walkeri (illustrated) ended abruptly 66 million years ago. New computer simulations lend support to a hypothesis that it was volcanic gases that made the killing blow.

JAMES KUETHER/Science Source

By Carolyn Gramling

For decades, scientists have vigorously debated whether an asteroid strike or massive volcanic eruptions ended the reign of the dinosaurs 66 million years ago.