For millions of years, giant dinosaurs acted as ecosystem engineers, preventing the rise of fruit. When an asteroid wiped them out, forests grew dense and dark, forcing plants to evolve a new strategy for survival. They developed large seeds and fleshy coatings to attract animal allies, creating a fruity world that would eventually fuel the evolution of primates—and ultimately, us.
How Dinosaur Extinction Led to a World Full of Fruit
The cascade of changes that followed the extinction of the dinosaurs may have had one surprising effect: the evolution of a world teeming with fruit.
Related Posts
This tropical plant builds isolated ‘apartments’ to prevent battles among the aggressive ant tenants it relies on for survival
When aggressive ant species come in contact, deadly conflicts ensue. G. Chomicki Guillaume Chomicki, Durham University and Susanne…
July 17, 2025
Sea level doesn’t rise at the same rate everywhere – we mapped where Antarctica’s ice melt would have the biggest impact
Sea-level rise changes coastlines, putting homes at risk, as Summer Haven, Fla., has seen. Aerial Views/E+/Getty Images Shaina…
March 11, 2026
Can eating poppy seeds affect drug test results? An addiction and pain medicine specialist explains
Eating culinary poppy seeds won’t get you high, but they could lead to a failed drug test. Linda…
March 17, 2023
Finding Leech DNA In Unexpected Places
Leeches, known for their blood-sucking behavior, can help scientists track endangered wildlife by analyzing the DNA of animals…
October 4, 2024
