Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction

The Cretaceous-Paleogene (K-Pg) extinction, around 66 million years ago, was a major event that wiped out about 75% of Earth's species, including the dinosaurs. It was likely caused by a massive asteroid impact, creating a huge crater in what is now Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula. The impact released enormous energy, causing widespread fires, climate changes, and a "nuclear winter" effect that blocked sunlight. This drastically disrupted ecosystems and food chains. The event marked the end of the Cretaceous period and the beginning of the Paleogene, leading to the rise of mammals and the evolution of new life forms.