Six Mass Extinctions in Earth’s History. Are We on the Brink of a Seventh?
Scientists define a mass extinction as the extinction of about three-quarters of all species over a short geological period of time, which is less than 2.8 million years, according to The Conversation. Right now, humans are at the beginning of the last mass extinction, which is moving much faster than any other. Since 1970, vertebrate species populations have declined by an average of 68%, and more than 35,000 species are currently considered threatened with extinction, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). During the 20th century alone, about 543 species of land vertebrates became extinct, according to a research paper in the journal PNAS.
Our ancestors’ numbers dwindled to 1,280 breeding individuals 930,000 years ago
Humanity owes its existence to just 1,280 people who nearly died out, study finds. A new method for estimating ancient populations has revealed a potential way in which humanity could have nearly disappeared. Researchers believe our ancestors dwindled to just 1,280 breeding individuals during the Pleistocene.
Evolution and Involution – Humanity at a Crossroads
The Ulas family in Turkey has attracted intense scientific attention for years. Because five members of the family walk on all fours, one scientist concluded more than a decade ago that the condition was a sign of reverse evolution. Self-proclaimed health futurist Jeffrey Charles Hardy argues that after millions of years, human evolution has stopped.