Earth’s deep history is punctuated by at least five cataclysmic events known as mass extinctions, periods characterized by a drastic and rapid decline in global biodiversity. These profound planetary shifts have collectively resulted in the disappearance of an estimated 99% of all species that have ever existed, fundamentally reshaping the trajectory of life on Earth on a colossal scale.
Among these “Big Five” events, scientific investigation highlights diverse triggers responsible for obliterating vast swathes of life. One of the most widely recognized is the Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction event, approximately 66 million years ago. This catastrophe is famously attributed to the impact of a massive asteroid, which is understood to have plunged the planet into a prolonged impact winter, initiating widespread ecological collapse and ultimately leading to the demise of the non-avian dinosaurs and numerous other species across marine and terrestrial environments.