The Triassic–Jurassic extinction cleared ecological space for dinosaurs to become the dominant land animals of the Jurassic.
Triassic–Jurassic Extinction: Volcanoes Open the Age of Dinosaurs Read More »
The Devonian extinction shows that evolution can be reshaped not by one sudden blow, but by a long collapse in ocean health.
Oceans Lose Their Breath Read More »
The Ordovician–Silurian extinction shows how climate change can reshape evolution by collapsing old ecosystems and opening space for new life.
Ordovician–Silurian Extinction: Ice Strikes the Seas Read More »
Snowball Earth was a time when our planet may have frozen nearly from pole to pole, testing life and setting the stage for later biological change.
Snowball Earth: When Ice Reached the Equator Read More »
Before, during, and after the K–Pg extinction: a thriving Late Cretaceous world of dinosaurs, pterosaurs, birds, and flowering plants gives way to the asteroid strike and global collapse that ended the age of non-avian dinosaurs.
The K-Pg Extinction Read More »
The Permian-Triassic extinction was not just the end of many species. It was a planetary reset that destroyed the old synapsid-dominated world and opened the door for the archosaur line that would later give rise to dinosaurs.
The P-T Extinction Read More »
The Cenozoic era starts with the K–Pg extinction 66 million years ago. That event marks the sudden end of the reign of dinosaurs and the rise of mammals and birds.
Cenozoic Era: Age of Mammals & Birds Read More »
The Mesozoic era starts with the end-Permian mass extinction 252 million years ago. Dinosaurs ruled over all, including us. It ends the reign of dinosaurs with the K–Pg extinction 66 million years ago.
Mesozoic Era: Age of Dinosaurs Read More »
The start of the Paleozoic era is marked by burrowing life 538.8 million years ago. The era includes the dominant rise of our ancestors. It ends 252 million years ago with the end-Permian mass extinction, a volcanic cascade global warming event.
Paleozoic Era: The Age of Synapsids Read More »
About 1 billion years ago, giant viruses evolved by “hoarding” cellular genes, expanding their genomes until they blurred the line between a simple virus and a living cell.
Giant viruses (within Varidnaviria) Read More »
About 1.25 billion years ago, Retroviruses emerged by transforming “jumping genes” into infectious agents, mastering the ability to rewrite a host’s permanent genetic code.
Retroviruses (within Riboviria) Read More »
About 1.75 billion years ago, Monodnaviria evolved as “runaway” genetic loops (plasmids) that stole structural proteins from other viruses to become independent, single-stranded DNA parasites.
About 2.75 billion years ago, the Varidnaviria evolved a unique “Double Jelly-Roll” protein fold to build massive, diverse shells, allowing viruses to scale up from tiny parasites to “giant” viruses that mimic cells.
Virus: Varidnaviria Read More »
Around the time of the first bacteria, about 3.2 billion years ago and after LUCA, the Duplodnaviria evolved a high-pressure, icosahedral protein armor that turned viruses into biological syringes capable of injecting DNA into any domain of life.
Bacteriophage → Duplodnaviria Read More »
About 3.7 billion years ago, RNA virus ancestors may trace back to the RNA world, but we can’t prove whether they predate LUCA or arose just after.
Virus: Riboviria (Early RNA replicators) Read More »
About 2.4 billion years ago, Cyanobacteria “hacked” the sun to split water, releasing oxygen as a byproduct and triggering the first global environmental catastrophe and subsequent biological reset.
Great Oxidation Event: Third Atmosphere Read More »
