Recent research has provided new insights into the asteroid that struck Earth 66 million years ago, causing a mass extinction event that led to the end of the dinosaurs. Scientists have now identified this impactor as a carbon-rich “C-type” asteroid, a type of space rock that likely originated in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.Recent research has provided new insights into the asteroid that struck Earth 66 million years ago, causing a mass extinction event that led to the end of the dinosaurs. Scientists have now identified this impactor as a carbon-rich “C-type” asteroid, a type of space rock that likely originated in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.