12,800 YEARS AGO, EARTH WAS STRUCK BY A DISINTEGRATING COMET, SETTING OFF GLOBAL FIRESTORMS

According to modern theories of geological evolution, the last major ice age began about 2.58 million years ago during the late Pliocene Epoch. Since then, the world has experienced several glacial and interglacial periods, and has been in an inter-glacial period ever since the last glacial period ended about 10,000 years ago.

According to new research, this trend experienced a bit of a hiccup during the late Paleolithic era. It was at this time roughly 12,800 years ago, according to a new study from the University of Kansas that a comet struck our planet and triggered massive wildfires. This impact also triggered a short glacial period that temporarily reversed the previous period of warming, which had a drastic affect on wildlife and human development.