Ep 11. Day the Dinosaurs Died

In the NOVA season 46 episode 11 titled "Day the Dinosaurs Died," viewers will be taken on a journey back in time, 66 million years ago, to one of the most catastrophic events in Earth's history. The episode is centered around the Chicxulub impact crater in Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, which scientists have determined was formed by a 6-mile-wide asteroid that collided with Earth, causing widespread devastation. This impact is believed to have triggered a mass extinction event that wiped out 75% of all life on Earth, including the dinosaurs.

The episode features interviews with leading experts in the fields of geology, paleontology, and astronomy who have spent years investigating the Chicxulub crater and its aftermath. Through their research, they have been able to piece together what happened on that fateful day and how it forever changed the course of life on our planet.

One of the key revelations of the episode is the discovery of a layer of sediment within the Chicxulub crater that contains a rare element called iridium. This discovery gave scientists strong evidence that an asteroid was the cause of the extinction event, as iridium is much more common in asteroids than it is on Earth. In addition to iridium, the sediment also contains other evidence of the asteroid impact, such as shocked quartz and lava-like formations that were formed as a result of the immense heat generated by the impact.

The episode also explores the aftermath of the impact and how life on Earth slowly began to recover. Viewers will get to see how scientists have used fossil evidence to map out the progression of life after the extinction event, from the rise of new species to the evolution of mammals.

Overall, the NOVA season 46 episode 11 "Day the Dinosaurs Died" is an informative and engaging look at one of the most important events in Earth's history. It provides a fascinating glimpse into the scientific process of piecing together clues from the past to better understand our present and future.