Extinctions

How Life Survives, Adapts and Evolves

By: Michael J. Benton

Narrated by: Peter Noble

Cutting-edge techniques across biology, chemistry, physics, and geology have transformed our understanding of the deep past, including the discovery of a previously unknown mass extinction. This compelling evidence, revealing a series of environmental crises resulting in the near collapse of life on Earth, illuminates our current dilemmas in exquisite detail.

Beginning with the oldest, Professor Michael J. Benton takes us through the "big five" die outs: the Late Ordovician, which set the evolution of the first animals on an entirely new course; the Late Devonian, apparently brought on by global warming; the cataclysmic End-Permian, also known as the Great Dying, which wiped out over 90 percent of all life on Earth; the newly discovered Carnian Pluvial Event; and the End-Cretaceous asteroid. He examines how global warming, acid rain, ocean acidification, erupting volcanoes, and meteorite impact have affected conditions on Earth, and how life survived, adapted, and evolved.

In Extinctions, listeners will learn about revolutionary new tools used to uncover ancient extinction events and processes in forensic detail, and how scientists are improving our understanding of the deep past. New research allows us to link long-ago upheavals to crises in our current age, the Anthropocene, with important consequences for us all.

©2023 Michael J. Benton (P)2023 Tantor

The story

One of the best sources about the mass extinctions on earth. Great depth and interesting told.

Excellent explanation of the evolution of life on earth.

This is a very good history of evolution and the fact that life must continually adapt to changing environments.

How vast time is

So interesting seeing the repeated patterns of life on earth. Great read or listen for a person that wants to keep life in an honest perspective

Another great book from Michael Benton.

A great overview of the big 5 mass extinctions. A great weaving together of the scenes from each geologic period.

Wonderful, thought provoking !

Who knew extinction could also be a vehicle for creation! Well presented, clear discussion of the big five extinctions and of course the current situation. Material I have read before but interesting perspective!