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Between Impact, Biggest Extinction in Earth History 22 Feb 2001
(Source: University of Rochester)  University of Rochester
Rochester, New York  Tom Rickey, (716) 275-7954  An asteroid or
comet similar to the one that wiped out the dinosaurs smacked
into Earth 251 million years ago, triggering the biggest
extinction in Earth history. The findings by scientists from the
University of Washington, University of Rochester, NASA, and New
York University are published in the Feb. 23 issue of Science
and provide the strongest evidence yet that an impact played a
role in the extinction known as "the Great Dying."  The impact
of the asteroid or comet, estimated to be anywhere from six to
12 kilometers wide, would have released unimaginable fury. "The
impact of a bolide of this size releases an amount of energy
that is basically about 1