Alvarez family's contributions to science

The Alvarez family made groundbreaking contributions to science through their discovery of the asteroid impact that caused the dinosaur extinction 66 million years ago. Led by physicist Luis Alvarez, they found high levels of iridium in a specific layer of Earth's crust, indicating a massive extraterrestrial collision. This evidence supported the asteroid impact hypothesis for mass extinction. Their work transformed understanding of Earth's history and the factors shaping life, emphasizing the role of catastrophic events in evolution. The Alvarez family's research showcased the power of interdisciplinary science, combining geology, physics, and chemistry to answer fundamental questions about our planet’s past.