Jagged Environment

Mass Extinctions

Mass extinctions
Science
Environmental and social time bombs
Origins
Progenesis - the simple to the complex
The stress of oxygen - antioxidants
Incorporation of organic building blocks into primitive cells
Hydrocarbon oxidation
Evolution of cell membranes
"Eat dirt"
A role for science?
Lifting the lid
Internal clock
Consequences
The influence of the extra-terrestrial
Essentials
Evolution of the individual
Can we save the planet?
Gaia
Predetermination - "fate"

Judging from the Natural world, we live in a calm and temperate age. Most of its upheavals have been induced by humankind alone, such as major wars. The apparent calmness of Nature promotes false reassurance. We are easily and complacently unaware of the forces which have been regularly unleashed across the Earth's history, and are certain to happen again.

(Their consequences are known as extinction of life events, which are variously attributed to supervolcanoes, asteroid impacts, even debris from the tail of a mighty comet. While there are apparent regularities in the occurrence of such events, the timing of another widespread extinction really is unpredictable: Author's note).

Copyright © 2001 Chris James

Last updated 12 March, 2005