Why is there debate over how dinosaurs became extinct?

Answer 1

• The Paleozoic, Mesozoic, and Cenozoic eras comprise the most recent 10% of Earth's geologic history.
• The Paleozoic era is marked by seven distinct periods. These consisted of dramatic climate changes, multiple life explosions, shifting continents, and new mountain ranges.
• A mass extinction at the end of the Paleozoic era left only 5% of the species on Earth, which made way for the age of the dinosaurs (and lasted 150 million years).
• The Mesozoic era had a warm, stable climate, leading to the development of rain forests and good conditions for dinosaurs.
• The supercontinent Pangaea broke apart during the Mesozoic era. Over millions of years, continents assumed their present-day positions.
• The first mammals appeared during the Mesozoic era.
• Scientists think the extinction of the dinosaurs was most likely caused by several large events such as volcanism and impact from a comet or asteroid

Answer 2

The debate over how dinosaurs became extinct centers around two main theories: the asteroid impact hypothesis and the volcanic activity hypothesis. Supporters of the asteroid impact theory believe that a large asteroid hitting Earth caused a catastrophic event that led to the extinction of the dinosaurs. On the other hand, proponents of the volcanic activity theory argue that massive volcanic eruptions over a long period caused environmental changes that ultimately led to the dinosaurs' demise. The lack of conclusive evidence and ongoing discoveries contribute to the continued debate among scientists.