Changes

2000</ref>

2000</ref>

Although uniformitarianism has been geological dogma since the time of Lyell, over the last half century, there has been a noticeable shift away from uniformitarianism. It is now, for example, widely accepted that the extinction of the dinosaurs was the result of the collision of an asteroid with the Earth.  

Although uniformitarianism has been geological dogma since the time of Lyell, over the last half century, there has been a noticeable shift away from uniformitarianism. This view is in no way inconsistent with the occurrence of events that cause major changes, just as throwing a ball into the air does not contradict the notion of gravity. For example, the widely accepted that the extinction of the dinosaurs was the result of the collision of an asteroid with the Earth is perfectly consistent with uniformitarianism.  

The likelihood of this explanation has been underscored by the actual observation of comet [[Shoemaker-Levy]] hitting the planet [[Jupiter]] in 1994. This event made huge marks on Jupiter that could be seen by amateur astronomers with backyard telescopes. It has also been underscored by the recent realization that large numbers of asteroids come surprisingly close to Earth.  

The likelihood of this explanation has been underscored by the actual observation of comet [[Shoemaker-Levy]] hitting the planet [[Jupiter]] in 1994. This event made huge marks on Jupiter that could be seen by amateur astronomers with backyard telescopes. It has also been underscored by the recent realization that large numbers of asteroids come surprisingly close to Earth.