THE DOOMSDAY DETECTIVES

A look at a father-and-son team’s journey to discover the scientific reasons why dinosaurs went extinct.

The book opens with dynamic black-and-white illustrations that dramatically depict the thriving flora and fauna of the Cretaceous Period, including dinosaurs, plants, and microscopic life. But what happened to the dinosaurs? Luis and Walter Alvarez, Cuban American father-and-son scientists, set out to solve this mystery. In 1980, they published a paper in Science magazine describing their hypothesis that an “extraterrestrial impact somewhere on Earth” led to the dinosaurs’ extinction. Strong, descriptive writing interspersed with engaging graphic novel panels together support the explanation of complex scientific concepts, including plate tectonics, historical evidence in rocks, and how evidence from outer space and the ocean connects to Earth’s geologic time scale. The Alvarezes spent years gathering proof to support their hypothesis, but the book shows how scientific theories are often controversial and even divisive. Informative sidebars highlight the diverse group of scientists who contributed to solving the mystery of extinction. But as is often the case, one finding leads to many more questions: “In science, no one has the last word.” The book closes by introducing contemporary scientists who are researching the doomsday event. Packed with explanations of scientific terminology and methods of operation, this detailed and compelling book is a superb guide for curious STEM-focused readers.

An outstanding resource that depicts the winding and complex journey of scientific exploration.