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
New Study Challenges the Role of Ancient Protein Motifs in the Evolution of Life
New research shows that the Walker A motif may not have been the foundational building block of early proteins, challenging long-held views on the molecular origins of life and protein evolution.
Sunflowers make small moves to maximize their Sun exposure − physicists can model them to predict how they grow
Sunflowers use tiny movements to follow the Sun’s path throughout the day. AP Photo/Charlie Riedel Chantal Nguyen, University…
Let’s show a bit of love for the lillipilly. This humble plant forms the world’s largest genus of trees – and should be an Australian icon
Shutterstock Darren Crayn, James Cook University and Stuart Worboys, James Cook University You’re probably familiar with the sight…
Did Your Dog Do a Head Tilt? It May Be Concentrating, Says Scientists
Being our companions for thousands of years since their domestication, humans have had a long-held fascination with our…
