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There are many theories to explain mammalian extinction.
© AMNH, Ross MacPhee |
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#5 - the Grab Bag
Scientists have also proposed that:
* Cosmic radiation produced by nearby supernovas (exploding stars) poisoned many of the Earth’s species.
* Subatomic particles called neutrinos, which are released as stars, collapsed and could have bombarded the earth, causing widespread cancer.
* Nickel, which is common in asteroids, was dispersed in the cloud of debris following an asteroid impact. Nickel stops plants from growing, which would have been catastrophic for plant-eaters and for their predators.
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