Asteroids Quote by Sam Kean
“Because our lungs regularly deal with carbon dioxide, they see nothing wrong with absorbing its cousin, SiO2, which can be fatal. Many dinosaurs might have died this way when a metropolis-sized asteroid or comet struck the earth 65 million years ago.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Disordered Universe by Sam Kean, 2020
Our bodies tolerate CO2, so they mistakenly accept silica particles, which can be deadly; this may have contributed to dinosaur extinctions after a massive impact.
In simple terms: We accept harmless gases but not dangerous particles, leading to fatal outcomes.
Key Takeaway
Beware hidden dangers that seem familiar.
Themes
biology
extinction
geology
Mood
cautious
inquisitive
Type
scientific
educational
When to use this quote
- medical safety
- industrial exposure
- environmental health
- historical extinction events
Key Concepts
respiratory physiology
particle toxicity
mass extinction
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we better distinguish safe from harmful inhaled substances?
- What modern parallels exist for unseen hazards?
A Different Perspective
The analogy may oversimplify complex extinction causes.
