The Great Extinction Events

Great extinction events are periods in Earth's history when large numbers of species disappeared rapidly, drastically reducing biodiversity. These events are typically caused by major changes like dramatic climate shifts, massive volcanic eruptions, asteroid impacts, or alterations in ocean chemistry. The most famous, the 'Permian-Triassic extinction,' wiped out around 90% of marine species, while the 'Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction' famously ended the age of dinosaurs. Such events reshape ecosystems, often paving the way for new life forms to evolve. Understanding them helps us grasp the planet's dynamic nature and the importance of environmental stability.