When Life Nearly Died: The Greatest Mass Extinction of All Time

摘要: There have been five big mass extinctions in the history of Earth. One 65 million years ago wiped out dinosaurs, but greatest all happened around 251 ago, at end Permian period. In this cataclysm least 90 per cent life was killed, both on land and sea, almost bringing evolution to a halt. What caused destruction such an unimaginable scale? Was impact huge meteorite, or prolonged volcanic eruption Siberia? The evidence is assembled Michael Benton gives his verdict. "When Life Nearly Died" does more than document catastrophic event - it also developing ideas, explaining how we know what about geology palaeontology, laying bare arguments egos scientists. shows that not arcane story interest only scientific community implications extinction millions for present-day biodiversity crisis are very relevant, so past can truly be guide present future