What Really Happened to the Dinosaurs?

Have you ever imagined what the world would be like if dinosaurs were still roaming the Earth? Huge creatures walking through forests, swimming in rivers, or soaring across the sky? But dinosaurs disappeared a long time ago—about 65 million years ago—and scientists have been trying to figure out exactly why.

The Big Meteor Theory

The most famous idea is that a giant meteor hit the Earth near what is now the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico. The crash caused wildfires and activated volcanoes. Smoke and ash filled the sky, blocking sunlight and making it hard for plants to grow.

Without food, many animals couldn’t survive. Eventually, even the mighty dinosaurs went extinct.

A Surprising New Idea

But there’s another theory—one that’s a bit different! Dr. Sherman Silber believes that dinosaur eggs played a big role in their extinction.

Here’s how: the gender of some animals depends on the temperature during incubation, or when the egg is kept warm. According to this theory, after the meteor hit Earth, temperatures rose—and most of the dinosaur eggs began hatching into males instead of females.

And what happens if there aren’t enough female dinosaurs to lay more eggs? The population can’t grow, and over time, the dinosaurs vanished.

It’s a sad but fascinating idea and it shows how small changes in nature can make a big difference.

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Conclusion

No one knows for sure what caused the dinosaurs to disappear, but scientists keep learning new things all the time. Whether it was a meteor, volcanoes, or even too many male dinosaurs—each theory brings us one step closer to solving the great mystery of dinosaur extinction!