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How did cockroaches survived an asteroid that led to the disappearance of dinosaurs? – Kinjal, 11, Delhi, India
When the rock, now known as the Chicxulub striker, fell out of space and struck the ground 66 million years ago, there were cockroaches. The effect has led to a huge earthquake, and scientists believe that this has also caused thousands of miles of volcanic eruptions. Three -quarters of plants and animals died, including all dinosaurs, except for some species that were today’s bird ancestors.
How can a couple of inch of a roach survive when so many powerful animals have disappeared? It turns out they were beautifully prepared to live during a meteoric disaster.
If you have ever seen a cockroach, you probably noticed that their bodies are very flat. This is not a coincidence. Flat insects can compress themselves into stricter areas. This allows them to hide practically anywhere – and it may have helped them survive the Chicxulub shot.
When the meteor struck, the temperature on the Earth’s surface increased. Many animals had nowhere to run, but roach could be attached to small soil cracks that provide excellent heat protection.
The effect of the meteor has caused many effects. He kicked so much dust that the sky darkened. As the sun dim, the temperature plummeted and the conditions became winter around the world. The plants that survived small sunlight have tried to grow, and many other organisms relied on those plants hungry.
Still, it is not cockroaches. Unlike some insects that prefer one particular plant, cockroaches are omniscient scandals. This means that they will eat most of the foods from animals or plants, as well as cardboard, certain clothes and even neck. Having an appetite that is not picky, cockroaches allowed you to survive a lean time from the disappearance of Chicxulub and other natural disasters.
Another useful feature is that cockroaches lay their eggs in little protective cases. These egg boxes look like dried beans and are called oothecae, which means “egg trays”. Like phone cases, Oothecae is difficult to protect its content from physical harm and other threats such as flood and drought. Some cockroaches could have waited for a part of the Chicxulub disaster from their comfort.
Modern cockroaches are few survivors who can live in almost any place, from tropical heat to the coldest parts of the world. Scientists believe that there are more than 4,000 types of cockroaches.
Many of these species like to live with people and become pests quickly. When the cockroaches are established in the building, it is difficult to get rid of every small cracks in these insects and their Oothecae. When there are many roaches in unsanitary sites, they can spread diseases. The biggest threat to human health arises from their allergens, which may cause some people to cause asthma attacks and allergic reactions.
Cockroach pests are difficult to operate as they can resist many chemical insecticides and because they have the same abilities that helped their ancestors miss many dinosaurs. However, cockroaches are much more than a pest that needs to be controlled. Researchers learn cockroaches to understand how they are moving and how their body is designed to get ideas on how to create better robots.
As a scientist, I see all the insects as beautiful, six -leg breaths. Cockroaches have already overcome the odds that were too big for dinosaurs. If the next meteorite caught the ground, I would be more excited about people than for the cockroaches.
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This article has been published from a conversation, non -profit, independent news organizations that provide you with facts and reliable analysis to help you give meaning to our complex world. This was written: Brian Lovett, Western Virginia University
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Brian Lovett is not working, consulting, having any company or organization funds, or receiving funding that is beneficial from this article, and has not disclosed any related relationships for their academic appointment.