Scientists have discovered a significant clue that may explain why the dinosaurs took over the world after the mass extinctions 251 million years ago. It would appear that alligators and modern day birds (which are both descended from the dinosaurs) have a different breathing mechanism (Cuirassal Breathing) to that found in mammals. This is most useful in low oxygen environments and, after the mass extinction, there was considerably less oxygen in the atmosphere.
Questions that occur to me are - is this to be our fate? (i.e. extinction after warming to be replaced by reptiles) And, how come there was a mass extinction and massive climate change millions of years ago without Man's involvement? (Is it possible that these natural cycles are bigger than Mankind?).
Your Monday questions are: -
- Which Hollywood legend was born Archibald Leach today in 1904 in
Bristol? - Today in 1778, Captain James Cook (right) discovered the Sandwich Islands. By what name are they known today?
- Which fictional bear was created by A A Milne who was born today in 1882?
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