Discover: UC professor explains 'slow doom that swept planet'
UC geologist shares theory on one of Earth's biggest mass extinctions
Scientists are still puzzling over one of the the Earth's biggest mass extinction 380 million years ago during the Devonian that killed three-quarteres of species on Earth.
University of Cincinnati geologist Thomas Algeo shared his theory for this mass extinction with Discover Magazine. Scientists don't think it was a meteor or comet like the one believed to have killed off the dinosaurs 65 million years ago.
But Algeo, a professor of geology in UC's College of Arts and Sciences, said a surprising culprit might have spelled the Earth's doom. According to Algeo, the proliferation of vascular plants across the Earth released massive nutrients and minerals that fueled toxic algae blooms that robbed the oceans of oxygen.
“There’s been a lot of searching for a plausible candidate,” Algeo told Discover.
Algeo and his research collaborators published their theory in 1995 in the Geological Society of America.
Featured illustration at top: A predatory gorgonopsid surveys a volcanic eruption that spells its doom during one of the Earth's five biggest mass extinctions. Illustration/Margaret Weiner/UC Creative + Brand
UC geology professor Thomas Algeo has been studying evidence of the mass extinction that wiped out most life on Earth 252 million years ago. Photo/Joseph Fuqua II/UC Creative + Brand
More UC geology news
Related Stories
Put down that beer; it's not a tanning lotion
July 1, 2024
The University of Cincinnati's Kelly Dobos joined WVXU's Cincinnati Edition to discuss what's fact and what's myth when it comes to sunscreen use, different kinds of sunscreen and a social media recommendation to use beer on your skin to help get a tan.
Cincinnati researchers want to know if MRIs can work better
June 28, 2024
WVXU and the Cincinnati Business Courier highlighted a new collaboration between the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, UC Health GE HealthCare, JobsOhio, REDI Cincinnati and Cincinnati Children’s to create an MRI Research and Development Center of Excellence located on UC’s medical campus.
UC 1819 Innovation Hub workshop spreads AI awareness
June 28, 2024
Microsoft and Disrupt Now joined forces to run a June 24-27 seminar at UC’s 1819 Innovation Hub teaching Cincinnati residents how to responsibly use AI.