Photo: Ancient Meteor Blast Peppered Mammoths With "Shrapnel"

Email to a Friend << Back to Full Story


This Siberian bison skull contains numerous pockmarks that scientists say were made by micrometeorites thrown off by a meteor impact 34,000 years ago.

Similar marks were found on seven mammoth tusks from the same period, the researchers say.

Photograph courtesy Richard Firestone/LBL

MOST VIEWED NEWS

2012: Six End-of-the-World Myths Debunked

APOCALYPSE PICTURES: 10 Failed Doomsday Prophecies

PICTURES: "Extraordinary" Ancient Skeletons Found
NEWS FEEDS    After installing a news reader, click on this icon to download National Geographic News's XML/RSS feed. After installing a news reader, click on this icon to download National Geographic News's XML/RSS feed.

Get our news delivered directly to your desktop—free.
How to Use XML or RSS

ADVERTISEMENT

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC'S PHOTO OF THE DAY

Today's National Geographic Photo of the Day

• Today's Photo

• Download as Wallpaper

50 Drives of a Lifetime

National Geographic Traveler has scoured the globe for the world's most beautiful, interesting, and off-beat road trips. Dive in to get drive directions, quizzes, photos, and more.