Revolutionary discovery: the asteroid that wiped out the dinosaurs may have also given birth to wine
About 66 million years ago, an asteroid struck Earth, wiping out the dinosaurs and marking the end of the Cretaceous period. But this global catastrophe may also have produced an unexpected gift: wine. A recent study suggests that this cataclysmic event may have helped fuel the proliferation of the first grape vines in the Western Hemisphere, laying the foundation for what would become one of the world’s most popular beverages.
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Asteroid impact and the birth of wine
Researchers traveling through Colombia, Panama and Peru have discovered fossilized grape seeds dating back 60 to 19 million years. Among the finds is a Lithuva seed, the oldest vine ever found in the western world, which is about 60 million years old. These findings suggest that the Chicxulub meteor impact not only marked the end of many living things but also transformed the environment in ways that favored the emergence and spread of vines.
A new beginning for flora
According to Fabiany Herrera, a paleobotany researcher, this extinction event not only reset the forests, but also changed the overall floral composition. Vines, taking advantage of the absence of large animals and a less dense forest, found an ideal environment to grow and spread across the world.
Post-dinosaur evolution
The disappearance of the dinosaurs had significant ecological repercussions. The large dinosaurs, which maintained sparse forests by uprooting trees, gave way to a landscape where climbing plants, such as vines, could thrive. This period saw a rapid diversification of plants using trees as support for their growth.
The impact on forest ecosystems
Mónica Carvalho, co-author of the study, points out that changes in post-extinction forest ecosystems have created ecological niches favorable to the proliferation of plants such as vines. These conditions have allowed a rapid expansion and diversification of plant species, including vines.
In search of the first vines
The story of this discovery is almost as fascinating as the discovery itself. Herrera, long searching for traces of the first vines in the Western Hemisphere, finally had a significant breakthrough during an expedition to the Colombian Andes with Carvalho.
Vines and their fossil history
Grapevines have an extensive fossil record, beginning about 50 million years ago. The discovery in South America only adds to the richness of this story, shedding light on the evolution of these plants from their emergence to their role in modern ecosystems.
Consequences and perspectives
This discovery not only changes our understanding of plant evolution after the extinction of the dinosaurs; it could also revolutionize our perception of the history of viticulture and agricultural development. The implications of this research extend beyond paleontology, touching on ecology, evolution and perhaps even future habitat conservation.
3000 years under Italian waters: an ancient statuette bearing the footprints of its creator surprises archaeologists
This article explores recent discoveries about the possible origins of wine, linked to the asteroid impact that wiped out the dinosaurs. It highlights how this catastrophic event may have fostered the emergence and proliferation of the first grapevines, redefining our understanding of post-extinction evolution and the history of wine.
Source: Nature.com