https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyperoxia

This was a screenshot I took months ago while watching a Geology Hub upload on YT. It was a lightbulb moment for my understanding of mass extinction events, (the largest was 250ma). I’ve referenced this multiple times, so thought I might share. Perhaps you find it as interesting as I do.

  • theneverfox
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    2
    ·
    6 months ago

    We probably wouldn’t perform as well as we do today towards the extremes. It might be survivable, but “survivable” can be a long way from “biologically optimal”.

    I often wonder about this. Is the increase in CO2 making us dumber?

    I’m certain the micro plastics and forever chemicals are messing with us majorly. It’s causing more than just higher cancer rates, but all these things are hard to tease out, especially since global we’re all being exposed to so many new poisons over the same time periods. It’s in the rain, the soil, the oceans, and everywhere else

    It all just makes me think - how much potential are we each losing to subtle effects of pollution?

    • Tlaloc_Temporal@lemmy.ca
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      1
      ·
      6 months ago

      I’d think that the aerosolized lead from leaded gasoline did far worse than any plastic or change in CO₂. There’s still lots of volatile pollutants, like CO and hexavalent-anything out there.