Apr 11, 2022 06:00:00

How did the 'cockroach' survive the collision of the asteroid that caused the extinction of the dinosaurs?

Cockroaches , which are familiar insects to modern humans, have existed on the earth for a very long time, and it is said that the origin of the cockroaches in this world is about 200 million years ago . It is also known that such cockroaches experienced the collision of the asteroid that caused the extinction of dinosaurs about 66 million years ago, but the question 'How did the cockroach survive the collision of the asteroid?' Brian Lovett , a doctoral researcher at the company, explains. In addition, since the image of cockroach is posted in the article text, please be careful if you are not good at it.

How did cockroaches survive the asteroid that led to the extinction of dinosaurs?
https://theconversation.com/how-did-cockroaches-survive-the-asteroid-that-led-to-the-extinction-of-dinosaurs-177118

When an asteroid known as the Chicxulub impactor fell to the earth about 66 million years ago, a large-scale earthquake, volcanic eruptions around the world, a tsunami reaching a height of 1000 m, a rapid rise in the temperature of the earth's atmosphere, and sunlight It caused a situation such as interruption. It is believed that this has extinct up to about 75% of organisms, including dinosaurs, at the species level and killed more than 99% of the population.

What happened on 'the day when the dinosaurs were mass extinct'? --GIGAZINE

Lovett explains why cockroaches survived asteroid collisions:

◆ Cockroach body shape
Anyone who has actually seen a cockroach knows that the cockroach's body is very flat and suitable for sneaking into narrow gaps. This shape allows cockroaches to hide virtually anywhere, and even when an asteroid collides and the surface temperature rises, it may have been protected from heat by escaping into a small gap in the soil. Mr. says.

◆ Cockroach eating habits
After the asteroid collided, the

mantle plume swirled up by the volcanic eruption, the soot caused by the forest fire, and the aerosol generated at the time of the collision blocked the sunlight, causing a sudden drop in temperature. As a result, many plants could not grow as they used to, and many animals that depended on them for food died.

However, cockroaches are omnivorous and can digest a variety of foods rather than relying on specific foods. In fact, cockroaches can eat most foods such as cardboard, hair, certain clothing, and animal feces, as well as foods derived from animals and plants. Therefore, he was able to survive the era of food shortages that came after the collision of asteroids.

◆ Cockroach breeding method
Cockroach eggs are called eggshells and are shaped like a rectangular protective case. The egg sheath is covered with something like a hard shell and is extremely sturdy, protecting the eggs inside from threats such as physical damage and drought, and this property helps to survive asteroid collisions. It's possible, Lovett said.

by Fonkê Leif Selber und Carsten Selber

At the time of writing the article, it is estimated that there are more than 4000 species of cockroaches around the world, and some cockroaches settle in buildings with humans, are difficult to exterminate, and may cause asthma and allergic reactions. Many people hate it because it looks unpleasant. However, Lovett pointed out that researchers have come up with various ideas from cockroaches and applied them to robot design and so on. 'As a scientist, I see cockroaches as a beautiful six-legged inspiration,' he said.