The Great Dying Event: Causes and Aftermath

The Cretaceous-Paleogene Extinction, occurring about 66 million years ago, marks the demise of approximately 75% of Earth's species, including all non-avian dinosaurs. This event redefined life on our planet.

Scientists largely agree an asteroid impact caused this mass extinction. Evidence includes a worldwide layer of iridium, an element common in asteroids but rare on Earth, and the Chicxulub crater in Mexico.

Another factor may be the Deccan Traps volcanic eruptions. These eruptions could have ejected vast amounts of dust and gases, drastically altering the climate and contributing to the extinction.

Post-impact, the climate changed rapidly. Darkness from debris blocked sunlight, disrupting photosynthesis. This led to a collapse in the food chain, severely affecting both terrestrial and marine ecosystems.

Not all species perished; those small in size and ecological generalists, like mammals and birds, survived. This selective survival paved the way for mammalian dominance and eventually, human evolution.

Life rebounded with surprising speed. Within a few hundred thousand years, new species diversified into the ecological niches left vacant, setting the stage for modern biodiversity.

The Cretaceous-Paleogene Extinction underlines the fragility of life on Earth. It serves as a stark reminder of potential global catastrophes, like asteroid impacts and climate change, that humanity must vigilantly prepare for.