There are two kinds of scientists

[pompe]

The ones who believe ultimately everything depends on things falling from the sky and those who don't.

Interesting, though. But what's a "swarm of comets"?

Comments

[pauldrye]

One pulled apart by a close approach to Jupiter as per Shoemaker-Levy 9.

[pompe]

Yeah, but why does the article only mention one comet hit? Wouldn't the comates hit a swathe of continent - the Earth isn't that big?

[pauldrye]

Not at all. Look at the crater chains on Ganymede and the like. The astroblemes actually overlap one another.

[jerseydevil77]

can anyone find the original article on nature? i looked (but not very hard) and didn't see it. i want to see what it says.

Found you via CNN.com btw, you were at the bottom in their 'blogs talking about this article'.

[pompe]

Nice to see you!

I think CNN.com screwed the journals up. It is from Science, not Nature.

http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/summary/323/5910/26

I don't have access here so I can't read the full paper, sadly.

[jerseydevil77]

aha, thanks! i do have access and was able to download the pdf. i'll send you a message and i can e-mail it to you if you want.

[pompe]

That'd be great!