A study of extinct bird species reveals that flightlessness developed in many cases due to human impact, with 29% of extinct species lacking the ability to fly. The researchers found that if humans had not caused some extinctions, there would be over 150 independently developed flightless bird groups.
A study reveals carbon dioxide from volcanic eruptions likely caused the end-Triassic mass extinction. The apparent increase in light carbon may have been caused by local sea level decline and microbial mats prior to the event.
Researchers found evidence of a large volcanic cause of the largest mass extinction, with sedimentary mercury enrichments detected in rocks from the end of the Permian period. The study suggests that high-temperature volcanic combustion contributed to global warming and the loss of land and marine creatures.
Researchers found that plankton species shifted from relying on sunlight to capturing food and eating it after the asteroid impact, allowing them to survive. This adaptation suggests that the lack of light played a crucial role in killing off some species, but others adapted to thrive.
Researchers used fossil records to estimate extinction risk in marine bivalves, finding that many harvested species are widespread and tolerant of environmental changes. However, the study highlights the need for more complete data on human impact to inform conservation efforts.
A new gene expression study by McLean Hospital researchers identifies CREB as a molecular switch regulating fear and extinction. Targeting this gene in neurons may provide new insights and treatments for anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder.
A three-year $591,000 NSF grant will help geoscientist Ben Gill solve the riddle of the Triassic mass-extinction event. The study aims to determine the longer-term timeline of changes in life and environment before and after the extinction, as well as assess the role of oxygen content changes in the oceans.
A team of researchers reconstructed the key events leading to the Permian-Triassic mass extinction, which wiped out three-quarters of land species and 95% of ocean species. Volcanic eruptions released massive amounts of CO2, causing extreme warming and acidification of the ocean.
A new study reconstructs the Permian-Triassic boundary event, revealing that massive volcanic activities in Siberia triggered the extinction of 95% of ocean life. The team used fossil brachiopod shells to analyze isotopes and simulate Earth's processes, concluding that warming and acidification led to catastrophic consequences.
The Permian-Triassic mass extinction marked the origin of endothermy in both synapsids and archosaurs, with evidence suggesting a 'switch' around 250 million years ago. This coincided with the emergence of erect posture and hair in mammal ancestors, as well as feathers in bird ancestors.
Researchers found that burned organic matter in sediments ejected from the Chicxulub impact crater likely contributed to the mass extinction event. The analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) suggests a fossil source origin and rapid heating, consistent with rock material ejected during the asteroid impact.
A new study warns that climate change could drive Komodo dragons to extinction due to habitat loss and sea-level rise. The research suggests that conservation strategies are not enough to protect the species in the face of global warming.
A new mass extinction event was discovered 233 million years ago, which led to the dinosaur takeover of the world. The Carnian Pluvial Episode caused widespread biodiversity loss due to climate change and increased greenhouse gases, but ultimately paved the way for the evolution of modern ecosystems.
A team of researchers from the University of Kansas blames a series of supernovae explosions for triggering the end-Devonian extinction event. The ionizing radiation caused internal damage in large animals and organisms, leading to mass extinctions of armored fish and trilobites.
A recent study challenges the notion that birds evolved rapidly following the mass extinction of non-avian dinosaurs. Instead, researchers found that bird skull evolution actually slowed down compared to non-avian dinosaurs. This slower pace of evolution is attributed to adaptations in beak shape and size.
A new study led by University of Illinois astronomer Brian Fields explores the possibility that astronomical events were responsible for an extinction event 359 million years ago. Researchers found evidence suggesting long-lasting ozone-depletion, which could be caused by killer cosmic rays from nearby supernovae.
Researchers sequenced ancient DNA from 14 woolly rhinoceroses and found that the species remained stable and diverse until temperatures rose too high for them, leading to extinction around 18,500 years ago. Genetic mutations helped the animals adapt to colder weather, but climate change ultimately contributed to their demise.
A global study by Utah State University researchers suggests that plant-eaters, including megaherbivores, are the most at-risk group for extinction. Human activities have led to the disproportionate extinction of herbivores compared to predators since the late Pleistocene.
A new study of over 44,000 species reveals herbivores have consistently faced the highest threat of extinction in modern times, past decades, and the late Pleistocene era. The research also shows that ocean predators are facing greater existential pressures than their land-dwelling counterparts.
Researchers reconstructed paleoclimate conditions from stalagmites in Apulia, Italy, finding minimal significant climate fluctuations. The findings challenge the climate change hypothesis as a cause of Neanderthal extinction.
A recent study by the University of Exeter reveals that Extinction Rebellion activists are more likely to be new to protesting, with 10% of participants being first-time demonstrators. The research also shows that these protesters are predominantly middle-class and highly educated individuals, with a strong presence from southern England.
After the Chicxulub asteroid impact, life on the seafloor recovered with some changes to community structure within 700,000 years. The diversity and abundance of trace fossils responded primarily to variations in organic matter flux.
A study analyzed biogeographic distributions of 52,318 marine fossils and found the latitudinal diversity gradient flattened rapidly during the Permian-Triassic mass extinction due to intense global warming and reduced ocean oxygen levels. The curve gradually returned to resemble modern biodiversity patterns after around 5 million years.
The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic shares similarities with global heating and species extinction, highlighting the need for early intervention and collective action. Researchers argue that delays in addressing these crises have devastating consequences, including loss of life and economic damage.
Nonavian dinosaurs went extinct during the end-Cretaceous mass extinction due to a 10-15% reduction in sunlight caused by an asteroid impact. Simulations suggest that the asteroid impact was the main driver of nonavian dinosaur extinction, while volcanism might have mitigated its effects.
A new study found that enforced monogamy creates populations less resilient to environmental stress, while polyandrous mating patterns improve genetic quality. This could help with conservation management and breeding in captivity for endangered species.
A new article validates the paradigm of multigenerational attritional loss of reproductive fitness (MALF) as a complete explanation for extinction. This shift from 'extinction' to 'evanescence' provides a clearer understanding of cause and effect, allowing for intervention in ongoing extinction events.
A new study examines Permo-Triassic mass extinction event's impact on tetrapod diversity, finding temperate latitudes held higher biodiversity before and after the extinction. The research suggests that regions now known for rich ecosystems were once too hot to support large animal communities.
A team of researchers has found direct evidence that massive coal burning in Siberia led to the Permo-Triassic Extinction, resulting in up to 96% marine species and 70% terrestrial vertebrate extinctions. The study suggests that catastrophic global warming devastated life on Earth.
A new study shows that the collapse of terrestrial ecosystems during the Permian-Triassic extinction, also known as the Great Dying, directly disrupted ocean chemistry. This finding highlights the importance of understanding inter-connectedness of ecosystems in the face of environmental challenges.
The extinction rate is likely much higher than previously thought, with nearly 1,000 species at risk of extinction in the next two decades. Human pressures such as population growth, habitat destruction, and climate change are driving this accelerated loss of biodiversity.
More than 500 terrestrial vertebrate species are on the brink of extinction, with fewer than 1,000 individuals remaining. Human activities in tropical and subtropical regions have driven the collapse of regional biodiversity, threatening numerous species.
Researchers discovered that a brief ozone layer collapse led to the extinction of plant and freshwater aquatic life 360 million years ago. This finding has profound implications for our warming world today, as Earth's temperatures may reach comparable levels, potentially triggering a similar event.
New computer model simulations suggest that Neanderthals' rapid decline was due to competition with Homo sapiens for resources. The model, which considers climate change and interbreeding, shows that Homo sapiens had a significant advantage in exploiting existing food resources.
The extinction of threatened marine megafauna species could result in a loss of 11% of the extent of ecological functions if current trajectories are maintained. Sharks are predicted to be the most affected, with losses of functional richness far beyond those expected under random extinctions.
A new study suggests that volcanic activity played a direct role in triggering extreme climate change at the end of the Triassic period. The amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere from these eruptions is comparable to the amount expected to be produced by all human activity in the 21st century.
A new study by Stanford researchers links the Late Ordovician Mass Extinction to ocean deoxygenation, revealing severe and prolonged anoxic conditions. The findings suggest that low oxygen levels in modern oceans will put strain on many organism types, potentially leading to extinction.
Bird species that exhibit novel foraging behaviors have reduced risk of extinction, according to a study published in Nature Ecology & Evolution. The researchers found that the more innovative a species is, the lower its risk of extinction, with some species able to adapt to habitat destruction by finding new food sources.
Researchers propose that the evolution of large paranasal sinuses in cave bears led to a trade-off between sinus development and skull strength. This compromise may have limited their ability to adapt to changing environments and ultimately contributed to their extinction.
Land animal die-offs began hundreds of thousands of years before marine extinction, with terrestrial vertebrate species declining by up to 70%, while marine extinctions may have occurred over tens of thousands of years. The study suggests a lag between land and sea extinctions, potentially due to different causes.
A new study found that climate change is likely to cause the extinction of the Greek Meadow Viper, with up to 90% of its habitat becoming uninhabitable by the end of the 2080s. Rising temperatures and aridification due to climate change are the primary threats to the species' survival.
Researchers found corals exhibiting dynamic survival responses akin to the last big extinction event, including increased deep-water residing and solitary colonies. This study highlights how human-driven climate change is rapidly increasing stressors on coral communities, threatening 75% of species with extinction.
A team of researchers led by Dr. Matthew Knope found that ecologically diverse animal groups are more resistant to extinction and dominate the modern ocean's biodiversity. The study analyzed fossil and living marine animals over 500 million years, showing a link between diversity and resistance to mass extinctions.
A new study has shed light on why the world's oceans are home to an astonishing array of species, with slow and steady evolution playing a key role in their diversity. The research analyzed over 20,000 fossil marine animals and found that ecologically flexible groups tend to be more resistant to extinction.
A new study found that extinction resistance, not ecological differentiation, drove the evolution of diverse marine animal life. Ecologically diverse clades became dominant due to their ability to survive mass extinctions, resulting in strong correlations between ecological diversity and taxonomic richness.
A new study by University of Arizona researchers estimates that one in three plant and animal species may face extinction by 2070 due to climate change. The study analyzed data from hundreds of plant and animal species surveyed around the globe, finding that maximum annual temperatures are the key variable driving local extinctions.
Scientists found that periodic changes in Earth's orbit and volcanic activity controlled the global carbon cycle during ancient mass extinctions. The study suggests that solar system processes had a significant impact on climate and environmental change over 200 million years ago.
A German research team has identified bony fish as particularly sensitive to climate change, with snails and oysters being less threatened. The study combines fossil data with experimental studies, providing a basis for future collaboration and more precise predictions of species extinction.
Researchers resurrected mammoth DNA and found unique genetic mutations affecting neurological development, male fertility, insulin signaling, and sense of smell. The study suggests that the small population's genetic defects may have hindered their survival.
Researchers at the University of Ottawa develop a new technique to predict the impact of climate change on species extinction risk, finding that bumble bee populations are disappearing in areas with hotter temperatures. The study's findings suggest a future with fewer bumble bees and reduced diversity, both in the wild and on our plates.
A single primitive turtle species, Laurasichersis relicta, survived the mass extinction event that wiped out dinosaurs 66 million years ago in the northern hemisphere. The turtle's unique shell features and armor-like spikes allowed it to thrive in humid environments with forest areas.
A new study warns of the platypus's critically high risk of extinction, citing water resource development, land clearing, climate change, and severe drought as major threats. The researchers call for urgent national action to prevent the species from disappearing from Australian waterways.
A survey of Americans reveals a disconnect between expert and public opinions on what constitutes an endangered species, with experts citing higher risk thresholds than the general public. The findings highlight the importance of synthesizing facts and values in decision-making, particularly when it comes to biodiversity protection.
Researchers found that asteroid impact was primary cause of K/Pg mass extinction, while volcanic outgassing played role in shaping species after event. Volcanic emissions altered carbon cycle, allowing oceans to absorb CO2, limiting global warming and potentially influencing Cenozoic life.
A Yale-led team of researchers argue that asteroid impacts, not volcanoes, were the primary cause of the mass extinction event that killed the dinosaurs. The study's findings contradict recent work on the Deccan Traps, massive eruptions in India that occurred around the time of the K-Pg extinction event.
A new study has identified the population of brain cells responsible for fear extinction training, discovering that these neurons are also activated by feelings of reward. The study suggests that fear extinction is equivalent to receiving a reward, providing potential therapeutic targets for treating anxiety disorders like PTSD.
A new study shows that brief daily mindfulness training facilitates extinction of conditioned fear reactions, producing lasting reductions in threat-related arousal responses. Mindfulness appears to have a specific effect on extinction retention, which could improve treatment effects for anxiety and trauma-related disorders.
The study reveals the Carolina parakeet's rapid extinction was mainly a human-mediated process, with no signs of inbreeding or population decline found on its genome. The genomic analysis suggests that the bird's unique diet may have contributed to its demise, and experts wonder if de-extinguishing the species could be possible.
Fossilized seashells from Antarctica reveal that the Earth's oceans were undergoing significant changes in response to increased carbon dioxide from volcanic eruptions. These findings provide new insights into the causes of the Cretaceous-Paleogene mass extinction event, which led to the demise of the dinosaurs.
Researchers suggest that small Neanderthal populations were vulnerable to extinction due to inbreeding and demographic fluctuations. Population modeling revealed that even moderate levels of inbreeding and Allee effects could lead to extinction across various population sizes.