The ‘Great Dying’ wiped out 90% of life, then came 5 million years of lethal heat. New fossils explain why | CNN
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A mass extinction event wiped out around 90% of life. What followed has long puzzled scientists: The planet became lethally hot for 5 million years. Researchers say they have figured out why using a vast trove of fossils.
  • marl_karx@lemmygrad.mlEnglish
    6·
    10 days ago

    I just hope that if humans die out, the next sentient species will discover our ruins and learn from our mistakes

    • ☆ Yσɠƚԋσʂ ☆@lemmygrad.mlOP
      7·
      10 days ago

      I wonder if there would be enough time for human level intelligence to evolve a second time here. We came to the scene very late, and for billions of years there’s been no intelligent life capable of technological progress here. In a few more billion years, the sun will expand and heat up to the point where no life on Earth will be possible. We may be the last shot for life to bootstrap and expand past our Solar system.

      • commiespammer@lemmygrad.ml
        3·
        10 days ago

        To be fair, most of that time was spent prokaryotic, then as single-celled organisms. Once actual animals arose it was relatively short evolutionary time for complex forms to happen. I just hope that won’t be necessary of course.

        • ☆ Yσɠƚԋσʂ ☆@lemmygrad.mlOP
          3·
          9 days ago

          That’s true, the progression isn’t linear. Although, it’s not clear human level of intelligence is really that important for survival either. It’s entirely possible that there could be a local maximum for intelligence that doesn’t pave the way to a technological civilization.