An eminent chemist concluded an article in an academic journal with a fanciful note, positing the existence of advanced dinosaurs on other worlds. How plausible is his assertion?

It happens to every writer: You've penned a nice article, checked your facts, and made sure all the commas are in the right place. Now you just need to come up with a punchy ending that ties it all together.

For Columbia University chemist Ronald Breslow and his journal article about the origins of organic molecules on Earth, that ending invoked extraterrestrial dinosaurs. 

Professor Breslow, it should be noted, is no crackpot. He holds Columbia's highest academic rank, served as president of the American Chemical Society, is a recipient of the National Medal of Science and many other top honors, and is generally regarded as an all-around Eminent Scientist.

Intelligent, technologically advanced insects would be a far more disturbing prospect. At least the dinosaurs were warm, hemoglobin blooded creatures. To read more, click here.