Dinosaurs Had the Worst Luck

Dinosaurs aren’t dead. Not completely. Birds carry on their Mesozoic legacy. But all the forms that inspire our dreams and nightmares – the tyrannosaurs, ceratopsids, sauropods, and their ilk – are all gone. They were wiped out in a blink of geologic time, roundabout 66 million years ago. How could a lineage as long-lived, diverse, and widespread as the non-avian dinosaur be exterminated so thoroughly?

As a little dinomaniac growing up in the 80s, the answer seemed simple. An asteroid struck the planet and struck down the dinosaurs in a stroke of cosmic bad luck. All the documentaries I begged my parents to tape for me were agreed on this point.

Stephen Brusatte, a paleontologist at the University of Edinburgh, grew up

DON'T MISS THE REST OF THIS STORY!
Create a free account to continue and get unlimited access to hundreds of Nat Geo articles, plus newsletters.

Create your free account to continue reading

No credit card required. Unlimited access to free content.
Or get a Premium Subscription to access the best of Nat Geo - just $19
SUBSCRIBE

Go Further

Subscriber Exclusive Content

Why are people so dang obsessed with Mars?

How viruses shape our world

The era of greyhound racing in the U.S. is coming to an end

See how people have imagined life on Mars through history

See how NASA’s new Mars rover will explore the red planet

Why are people so dang obsessed with Mars?

How viruses shape our world

The era of greyhound racing in the U.S. is coming to an end

See how people have imagined life on Mars through history

See how NASA’s new Mars rover will explore the red planet

Why are people so dang obsessed with Mars?

How viruses shape our world

The era of greyhound racing in the U.S. is coming to an end

See how people have imagined life on Mars through history

See how NASA’s new Mars rover will explore the red planet