Land A new study has revealed that it is in the midst of its sixth mass extinction, and this time it was caused by human hands. Prior to this, there have been five major catastrophic events on Earth due to natural climate change, asteroid impacts, and natural phenomena. But this sixth is not so. This is nothing but very natural, says a study published in the peer-reviewed academic journal Biological Reviews.

This is not even a new phenomenon. Instead, it has been going on since at least 1500 CE. Earth was once home to two million known species. However, according to the study, from 1500, 7.5% -13% of these items may have been lost. It ranges from 150,000 to 260,000 different species. Scientists say that the extinction or complete extinction of many species is a sign of mass extinction.

But a study led by Robert Cowie of the University of Hawaii estimates that the vast majority are focused on mammals and birds. In other words, they completely ignore much of the earth’s biodiversity. The severity of the situation varies. In particular, it affects vegetation more slowly, affecting more territory – especially islands such as Hawaii – than continents.

‘Humans are the only species capable of manipulating the biosphere on a large scale,’ Cowie said in a statement. Conservation efforts, in theory, are possible and have been used successfully for some species. But it seems impossible to change the overall trend. Cowie claimed he lacked the political will to fight the issue. If people continue to deny that even the sixth genocide is happening, the situation will only get worse.

Although others have very different approaches to the nature of the problem and its solution, it is not only the cowboy who recognizes the problem. According to billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, there is a 100% chance of extinction for all living things on earth, even if it means extinction at the hands of humans. Instead of being caused by humans, there may be a cause, including the expansion of the sun. But this could also be avoided if humanity spreads across the stars and becomes a polygamous civilization, Musk argued.

Musk has suggested this many times before, specifically colonizing Mars and expressing his aspirations through initiatives at his company, SpaceX. But Musk is not alone in thinking that spreading humanity to other planets is a viable solution. According to Avi Lobb, an Israeli-American astronomer at Harvard University, one day a light sailing vessel capable of saving life on Earth could be used as ‘Noah’s Ark’. He argued that this was important because mankind had already “spent a considerable amount of money to destroy this planet.”

Last Updated on January 17, 2022, at 3:30 PM IST