Human-Driven Mass Extinction Wiping Out Branches on Tree of Life

Human activity is causing a mass extinction event, comparable to the comet that wiped out the dinosaurs, by driving entire branches of the tree of life to extinction. Ecologists warn that this irreversible threat is changing the trajectory of evolution globally and destroying the conditions necessary for human life. The rate of extinction is 35 times higher than previous levels, and if current trends continue, all current endangered genera could be extinct by 2100. This loss of biodiversity has severe cascading consequences for ecosystems and human society. Urgent political, economic, and social efforts are needed to prevent further extinctions and their societal impacts.