T. Rex and the Crater of Doom

The Yucatan impact was responsible for the extinction of the dinosaurs and many other plant and animal species. Choose one extinct species that Alvarez mentions in the book and explain how the asteroid impact created the conditions for its extinction. Conduct additional research if necessary, and include references to this text as well.

The impact hypothesis was a controversial idea within geology and paleontology in the 1980s. Explain the different perspectives on this hypothesis at the time.

The Yucatan impact is a particularly significant part of Earth’s history because it triggered the fifth mass extinction event (which doomed the dinosaurs) and marked the end of the Cretaceous period. Research another mass extinction from Earth’s past, and compare and contrast it against the dinosaur mass extinction, using information from this book and other sources as needed.

How did professionals from multiple disciplines collaborate to investigate the impact hypothesis? Describe this process and its results.

In the 19th and 20th centuries, two main schools of thought prevailed in geology: gradualism and catastrophism. Explain each, and discuss how geologists have discovered that both of these perspectives inform human understanding of Earth. Using textual evidence, examine this shift in detail.

Identify a theme from the book that this guide does not cover. Examine this theme critically, showing how the author develops it through his anecdotes and/or scientific explanations.

The book provides an intimate, behind-the-scenes glimpse into how scientists develop theories and uncover evidence. Explain Alvarez’s journey from his initial hypothesis to uncovering and presenting evidence in support of it. What does it reveal about the nature of scientific inquiry?

What kind of geological evidence did Alvarez discover, and how does it support his impact theory? Answer in detail. Research how this same kind of geological evidence has provided clues about other natural phenomena.