Scientists have revised the age of one of America's largest meteor craters, determining it is 100 million years younger than previously estimated and suggesting it coincided with a known mass extinction event.

"Large US meteor crater redated to 100 million years younger, coinciding with extinction event" — Live Science · Science & Medicine

15 Oct 2026

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What it means

Scientists have revised the age of the in Oklahoma, one of the largest impact craters in the United States, finding it is about 356 million years old—100 million years younger than previously thought. This new date places the impact at the , a known mass extinction event, suggesting the strike may have contributed to that extinction.

Accuracy & sourcesGrounded

The claim is based on a new peer-reviewed study that applied modern techniques to re-date the Ames crater. Live Science's reporting is a reputable secondary account, corroborated by a ScienceDaily article from early October 2026. Without access to the full paper, the specific methodology is not independently verifiable here, but the consistency across science news outlets supports a solid foundation.

Scientists have revised the age of one of America's largest meteor craters, determining it is 100 million years younger than previously estimated and suggesting it coincided with a known mass extinction event.

What it means

Accuracy & sourcesGrounded

How new

Past coverage

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