Chicxulub impact underground hydrothermal system

The asteroid that killed the dinosaurs created a hot underground habitat

The Chicxulub asteroid impact shattered rock and left enormous amounts of heat beneath the crater. Water circulated through the fractured ground, forming a hydrothermal system that may have lasted for a very long time. Researchers think such environments could have supported microorganisms even after the surface suffered catastrophic destruction.

Venice diverted rivers away from its lagoon

Venetians redirected all the major rivers flowing into the lagoon to keep sediment from filling it and to protect Venice from attacks by land. The city was left in an ever-deeper lagoon environment.

Greek writing returned to western Europe

In medieval times, Greek works on science, math and philosophy reached western Europe and the Islamic world, often in translation. Greek literature, histories and speeches mostly stayed with Byzantine scholars. Renaissance scholars later brought these works back to western Europe.

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Chicxulub impact underground hydrothermal system

The asteroid that killed the dinosaurs created a hot underground habitat

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