The Cretaceous-Tertiary extinction event

The Cretaceous-Tertiary extinction event, also known as the K-T extinction, occurred around 66 million years ago and is most famous for causing the extinction of the dinosaurs. This event was likely triggered by a massive asteroid impact, which created the Chicxulub crater in today’s Yucatán Peninsula, along with intense volcanic activity. These events led to dramatic climate changes, including darkness, cooling, and disrupted ecosystems. As a result, about 75% of all species on Earth, including many plants and animals, went extinct, paving the way for mammals and eventually humans to thrive in the aftermath.