65 million years ago - spectacular end to a spectacular era
Sixty-five million years ago, a huge number of plant and animal species including dinosaurs died out. Such events are called 'mass extinctions'.
No one is completely sure what caused this particular mass extinction. Many plants and animals may have been already declining or at least vulnerable to extinction because of global changes in climate, falling sea-levels and the retreat of inland seas.
Evidence suggests that a catastrophic event such as a meteorite strike or huge volcanic eruptions, or both, contributed to the mass extinction. Either event could have reduced sunlight, lowered temperatures, generated acid rain and killed off plant and animal life.
Did death come from the skies?
Was it a meteorite strike that caused the extinction of the dinosaurs? Take a look at the evidence.
Or did death rise from the centre of the Earth?
Did the dinosaurs become extinct because of volcanic activity? Study the evidence.
Will we ever know what actually killed the dinosaurs?
Did all the dinosaurs die out at the same time?
Surprising roll of the dice of life
What animals became extinct and what animals survived the catastrophe at the end of the Cretaceous Period?
