QuestionsYounger Dryas impact hypothesisDid an extraterrestrial impact or airburst occur at the onset of the Younger Dryas, about 12,800 years ago?Answer
Answer · Younger Dryas impact hypothesis
A small or differentiated extraterrestrial body (such as an iridium-poor iron meteorite) left the Greenland…
A small or differentiated extraterrestrial body (such as an iridium-poor iron meteorite) left the Greenland platinum signal, without a continental catastrophe.
Where it stands
Still possibleIts tests haven't settled it: one piece of evidence for, one against. It needs two reviews to be accepted.
What it predicts
- The platinum spike carries meteoritic osmium isotope ratios and a platinum-group pattern matching iron meteorites.
- No continent-wide fire or proxy layer accompanies it.
What would rule it out
- Osmium isotopes or tephra in the spike interval show a volcanic source.
Evidence 1 for · 1 against
FOR
The questions it answers
Most likelyNo impact or airburst occurred; the proposed markers are terrestrial or background cosmic material…
Cite it
Mysteries Department. (2026). A small or differentiated extraterrestrial body (such as an iridium-poor iron meteorite) left the Greenland… [Answer ANS0D51XCQ621B8]. https://mysteriesdept.com/r/ANS0D51XCQ621B8
@misc{mysteriesdept_ans0d51xcq621b8,
title = {A small or differentiated extraterrestrial body (such as an iridium-poor iron meteorite) left the Greenland…},
author = {{Mysteries Department}},
year = {2026},
note = {Answer, catalog key ANS0D51XCQ621B8},
url = {https://mysteriesdept.com/r/ANS0D51XCQ621B8}
}