K-T extinction thought experinment

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around a thought experiment regarding the K-T extinction event and its implications on the survival of various animal orders, such as dinosaurs and ammonites, had the asteroid not impacted Earth. Participants explore speculative scenarios about evolutionary outcomes and the factors influencing extinction.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants propose that if the asteroid had not hit, certain animal orders might have survived to the present day.
  • Others argue that while intuition suggests survival, proving such a claim is inherently speculative.
  • A participant notes that some species may have been declining prior to the asteroid impact, raising questions about their potential survival.
  • Another participant introduces the idea that other catastrophic events, such as Deccan volcanism, could have contributed to extinction regardless of the asteroid impact.
  • One participant humorously suggests the possibility of dinosaurs still existing today, reflecting the speculative nature of the discussion.
  • A correction is made regarding the spelling of "experiment," along with a reference to a book discussing evolutionary possibilities on other planets.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree that the discussion is speculative and that definitive conclusions cannot be drawn. Multiple competing views regarding the factors influencing survival and extinction remain unresolved.

Contextual Notes

The discussion is limited by its speculative nature and the lack of concrete evidence to support claims about survival or extinction. Assumptions about the state of various species prior to the K-T event are not fully explored.

aquitaine
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If the asteroid didn't hit, then of the multitude of animal orders that went extinct (ammonites, most marine reptiles like mosasaurs, dinosaurs, etc) would any have survived to this day?
 
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It's all speculative, really.

Intuition would say that they would still be alive today, but how do you do about proving that?
 
ndnkyd said:
It's all speculative, really.

Intuition would say that they would still be alive today, but how do you do about proving that?

I heard some dinosaurs singing outside my window this morning... :approve:
 
Well, look at it this way, were any of them on the way out before the asteroid hit?

It's all speculative, really.
Exactly, it's a thought experinment.
 
aquitaine said:
If the asteroid didn't hit, then of the multitude of animal orders that went extinct (ammonites, most marine reptiles like mosasaurs, dinosaurs, etc) would any have survived to this day?
Probably, and we wouldn't be here.
 
Yes its speculative, but didn't the Deccan vulcanicity and the collision of India and Asia occur around this time?
So something nasty might have happened anyway, these events have also been blamed for the KT extinctions.
 
Sorry... it's experiment, not experiNment. There's a good book that deals with some ideas like that but it's specifically what sorts of creatures would evolve on other planets and why. It's called Darwin's Universe. Pretty fun read.
 

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