The Chicxulub asteroid impact, which occurred 66 million years ago, is widely recognized for causing the mass extinction of dinosaurs and many other species.

Recent research has confirmed that a second, smaller asteroid struck Earth around the same time, creating the Nadir Crater off the coast of West Africa.

The Nadir Crater, measuring approximately 9 kilometers in width, was formed during the end of the Cretaceous period and is buried under 1,300 feet of sediment.

Their findings, published in Nature Communications Earth & Environment, provide insights into the immediate aftermath of the impact, including the formation of a bowl-shaped crater and significant geological disturbances.

Uisdean Nicholson from Heriot-Watt University led a team that utilized high-resolution 3D seismic imaging to conduct a comprehensive study of the underwater crater.

The impact of the Nadir asteroid, estimated to be 450 to 500 meters wide, generated a catastrophic tsunami over 800 meters high that would have traveled across the Atlantic Ocean.

Future research plans include drilling into the seabed to collect sediment cores, which could yield further insights into the environmental conditions following the impact.

These new findings provide a valuable opportunity to test impact crater hypotheses and develop models of crater formation in marine environments.

The occurrence of two large asteroid impacts in close succession is unusual, and researchers are exploring the reasons behind this phenomenon.

The Nadir Crater presents a rare opportunity for scientists to study marine impact cratering processes, as only 20 marine craters exist worldwide.

The impact not only created the visible crater but also caused significant seismic activity that liquefied sediments and triggered underwater landslides and tsunamis.

This study enhances our understanding of Earth's history and highlights the potential risks posed by near-Earth objects, such as asteroid Bennu, which has a minor chance of impacting Earth in the future.