Alvarez Hypothesis

The Alvarez Hypothesis, proposed by physicist Luis Alvarez in 1980, suggests that the extinction of the dinosaurs around 66 million years ago was caused by a massive asteroid impact on Earth. This impact created dust and debris that blocked sunlight, disrupting the climate and food chains. The hypothesis is supported by evidence of a layer of iridium-rich clay found in various locations, which is rare on Earth but common in asteroids. This event marked the end of the Cretaceous period, leading to the extinction of approximately 75% of Earth's species, including most dinosaurs.