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Eons

The Huge Extinctions We Are Just Now Discovering

Season 6 Episode 8

What graptolites tell us is a story of incredible changes in the ocean, of periods where the oceans became poisonous and suffocating before eventually clearing up again. They unlock extinctions and recoveries that scientists didn't see. And, most of all, they show us how unpredictable the Silurian period really could be.

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How were they able to survive in this harsh environment?
The World Before Plate Tectonics
9:24
This period was anything but boring.
When Dinosaur Look-Alikes Ruled the Earth
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These animals truly ruled the Earth, becoming both abundant and diverse.
How We Identified One of Earth’s Earliest Animals
10:44
The key to solving the puzzle of Precambrian life was a tiny bit of fossilized fat.
The Two Viruses That We’ve Had For Millions of Years
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The two viruses that we’ve had for millions of years.
How Plants Caused the First Mass Extinction
9:31
The arrival of plants on land would eventually help cause a massive extinction event.
How the Andes Mountains Might Have Killed a Bunch of Whales
8:27
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The Risky Paleo Diets of Our Ancestors
7:59
Part of a secret to our success as a species has been our early experimentation with food.
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