SAT Question 25361ec6: Transitions answer and explanation

English - Transitions - Sequence Transition
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Scientists long debated the origins of chondrules, tiny glass beads that formed in meteors billions of years ago. For decades, different theories were proposed, from lightning strikes to powerful rock collisions, but none had sufficient evidentiary support. ______ scientists found strong evidence that chondrules were formed by shock waves in nearby nebulae.
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Difficulty:Medium
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?