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Space Rocks Could Reseed Life on Earth

Posted May 15, 2008 8:48 AM

From SPACE.com:

Asteroid and comet impacts on Earth can cause catastrophic extinction events. They can also bring life back, new research shows. Many scientists believe that a massive rock from space came crashing down 65 million years ago at the end of the Cretaceous Period. The resulting blast set forests ablaze. The skies of Earth were filled with ash that blocked out the sun, and the planet went cold. Vegetation died in the absence of sunlight. Shortly thereafter, the dinosaurs and many other life forms on Earth went extinct. Millions of years of evolution were wiped clean in an instant.

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Guru
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#1

Re: Space Rocks Could Reseed Life on Earth

05/15/2008 4:55 PM

I don't think that is quite accurate. I think an impact 65 million years ago was an event that changed life on Earth, but the dinosaurs, contrary to popular belief, didn't get wiped off the Earth in an instant.

It took millions of years for the extinction of dinosaurs to to take place after that catastrophic event 65 million years ago.

Guru
New Zealand - Member - Interested in everything- see my Profile please Engineering Fields - Electrical Engineering - Member Engineering Fields - Power Engineering - Member Engineering Fields - Civil Engineering - Member Hobbies - Musician - Autoharp and Harmonica

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#2

Re: Space Rocks Could Reseed Life on Earth

05/16/2008 1:46 AM

Evolution?

What's this nonsense about evolution, which is, after all, only a theory so many years after being first proposed.

Adaptation certainly, but interspecies fertilization generally end up with sterile hybrids.

always wear a tin hat, and carry an umbrella, for protection against impacting objects

Kind Regards....

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Guru
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#3
In reply to #2

Re: Space Rocks Could Reseed Life on Earth

05/16/2008 7:45 AM

<...always wear a tin hat...>

There might be one on offer in the KrisDelTM products catalogue...

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Guru
Popular Science - Evolution - New Member

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#4
In reply to #2

Re: Space Rocks Could Reseed Life on Earth

05/16/2008 7:49 AM

Not that I want to get into a long drawn out discussion about evolution, which is somewhat off track, but interspecies fertilization is not a mechanism for evolution and was never cited as such by Darwin.

Guest
#5
In reply to #4

Re: Space Rocks Could Reseed Life on Earth

05/16/2008 10:34 AM

That's right. Evolution is a combination of adaptation and random genetic mutations that result in beneficial changes. (Denigrate mutations are eliminated by natural selection.) I don't understand how so many can deny the existence of evolution (as Darwin proposed it, not as the religious right has perverted it), the evidence is everywhere and obvious to even the most casual observer of the natural world. The only caveat is that human society values protecting the weakest members of our species and has effectively stalled much of our evolutionary progress.

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#6
In reply to #2

Re: Space Rocks Could Reseed Life on Earth

05/16/2008 6:35 PM

After all, you don't want to die because you got hit by a defunct toilet seat evacuated from the MIR space station.

Orpheuse

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#8
In reply to #2

Re: Space Rocks Could Reseed Life on Earth

05/17/2008 1:01 AM

nonsense about evolution,,,,,mean my own crazy battle,,,,,,but it just involve me,me,and my moi.If you hate it do not look at it.I am serious stuff and universe =stuff=print=erecting =do it.fit without moral but do it,phil,,,,I will stick but not too long as a respect for all my shit I did.

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#7

Re: Space Rocks Could Reseed Life on Earth

05/17/2008 12:48 AM

I did not know that our planet was in need of more seeding?!?!?! Are we expecting a huge die off soon? Is that what they from Space.com are calling for after Dec 21st 2012? Reseeding of the earth after everything is wiped out... Well, at least according to the Mayan calendars we are in for a bumpy ride...

Cheers

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Guest
#9
In reply to #7

Re: Space Rocks Could Reseed Life on Earth

05/17/2008 1:02 AM

ok look my blog

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#10
In reply to #9

Re: Space Rocks Could Reseed Life on Earth

05/17/2008 1:04 AM

HUH? What, where, how and who?

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