Sixth mass extinction event in progress, claims study; blames human activities
Skip to main content
  • Home
  • Economy
  • Stocks
  • Analysis
  • World+Biz
  • Sports
  • Splash
  • Features
  • Videos
  • Long Read
  • Games
  • Epaper
  • More
    • COVID-19
    • Bangladesh
    • Infograph
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Thoughts
    • Podcast
    • Quiz
    • Tech
    • Subscribe
    • Archive
    • Trial By Trivia
    • Magazine
    • Supplement
  • বাংলা
The Business Standard
WEDNESDAY, MAY 25, 2022
WEDNESDAY, MAY 25, 2022
  • Home
  • Economy
  • Stocks
  • Analysis
  • World+Biz
  • Sports
  • Splash
  • Features
  • Videos
  • Long Read
  • Games
  • Epaper
  • More
    • COVID-19
    • Bangladesh
    • Infograph
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Thoughts
    • Podcast
    • Quiz
    • Tech
    • Subscribe
    • Archive
    • Trial By Trivia
    • Magazine
    • Supplement
  • বাংলা
Sixth mass extinction event in progress, claims study; blames human activities

World+Biz

Hindustan Times
18 January, 2022, 11:55 am
Last modified: 18 January, 2022, 12:02 pm

Related News

  • Android users are better drivers than iPhone users: Study
  • Covid-19 third leading cause of death again in 2021- US study
  • Half of deaths among hospitalised children happen after discharge: Study
  • Misinformation influences communal violence: Study 
  • Extrajudicial killings must be investigated to check further sanctions: Webinar 

Sixth mass extinction event in progress, claims study; blames human activities

The study said that 150,000 to 260,000 species have gone extinct in the last 500 years. The researchers asked the scientific community to unite and work towards preserving the natural balance of the planet

Hindustan Times
18 January, 2022, 11:55 am
Last modified: 18 January, 2022, 12:02 pm
Representational Image
Representational Image

Earth is witnessing the sixth mass extinction event, a study has claimed. Led by University of Hawaii, the research blames human activities for the rapid deterioration of the number of species in the planet.

The researchers, however, said that the current extinction is not a new phenomenon and has been going on since the 16th century. They said that Earth has lost 7.5 to 13 per cent of its two million species - 150,000 to 260,000 - since then.

The peer-reviewed study, which has been published in Biological Reviews, countered the views presented by some of the researches who point to the Red List by International Union for Conservation of Nature or IUCN.

The head of the research, Robert Cowie, said that the Red List is biased, which leaves out most invertebrates - a group that has seen a dramatic loss and is the majority of biodiversity on Earth.

"Incorporating estimates of the true number of invertebrate extinctions leads to the conclusion that the rate vastly exceeds the background rate and that we may indeed be witnessing the start of the Sixth Mass Extinction," said the study.

It added that island species have suffered far greater rates than continental ones, and plants too have faced similar conservation biases as invertebrates.

The researchers blamed the humans, saying the latest mass extinction event is not a natural phenomenon.

"Humans are the only species able to manipulate the Earth on a grand scale, and they have allowed the current crisis to happen," said the researchers.

They then called on the scientists to unite and do everything possible to stop the extinction of species. "Denying the crisis, simply accepting it and doing nothing, or even embracing it for the ostensible benefit of humanity, are not appropriate options and pave the way for the Earth to continue on its sad trajectory towards a Sixth Mass Extinction," said the study.

Billionaire Elon Musk is among those who took notice of the study and replied to a user on Twitter that there is a 100% chance of all species extinction due to expansion of the Sun, "unless humanity makes life multiplanetary".

Top News

Earth / Species / mass extinction / study

Comments

While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.

Top Stories

  • The war has blocked Ukraine’s grain exports by sea, cutting off vital supplies for countries from Somalia to Egypt.Photographer: Islam Safwat/Bloomberg
    Russia is winning from the global food crisis it helped create
  • PM for protecting environment during implementation of development projects
    PM for protecting environment during implementation of development projects
  • Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan. Picture: Collected
    Pakistan govt plans to arrest Imran Khan, top PTI leaders

MOST VIEWED

  • Philippine presidential candidate Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., son of late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, delivers a speech during a campaign rally in Lipa, Batangas province, Philippines, April 20, 2022.
    Philippines Congress proclaims Marcos as next president
  • Russian parliamentarians listen to Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin during a session of the State Duma, the lower house of parliament, in Moscow, Russia May 12, 2021. Sputnik/Alexander Astafyev/Pool via REUTERS
    Russian parliament scraps age limit for army recruits
  • British Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaks at the House of Commons, in London, Britain, April 19, 2022. UK Parliament/Jessica Taylor/Handout via REUTERS
    Leadership to blame for illegal parties at UK Johnson's office
  • A view of a plant of Azovstal Iron and Steel Works damaged during showers of brightly-burning munitions, amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine, in Mariupol, Ukraine, in this undated still image obtained from a handout video released on May 15, 2022.
    Russia offers fast-track citizenship to residents of occupied Ukraine
  • Photo: Collected
    South African experts don't see need for mass monkeypox vaccination
  • The war has blocked Ukraine’s grain exports by sea, cutting off vital supplies for countries from Somalia to Egypt.Photographer: Islam Safwat/Bloomberg
    Russia is winning from the global food crisis it helped create

Related News

  • Android users are better drivers than iPhone users: Study
  • Covid-19 third leading cause of death again in 2021- US study
  • Half of deaths among hospitalised children happen after discharge: Study
  • Misinformation influences communal violence: Study 
  • Extrajudicial killings must be investigated to check further sanctions: Webinar 

Features

Psycure has received various awards for their extraordinary contributions to promoting Sustainable Development Goals. Photo: Courtesy

Psycure: Meet the organisation serving the underserved university students (and beyond) with mental healthcare 

6h | Panorama
Underlying problems such as school dropouts need to be addressed first before taking a legal route to stop child labour. Photo: Reuters

‘Child labour in a country like Bangladesh is primarily a development issue, not so much of enforcement’

8h | Panorama
The balcony railings of the Boro Sardar Bari in Sonargaon. Made of cast iron, these railings feature vertical posts with intricate designs on top. Photo: Noor-A-Alam

The evolution of railing and grille designs

1d | Habitat
A Russian army service member fires a howitzer during drills at the Kuzminsky range in the southern Rostov region, Russia January 26, 2022. REUTERS/Sergey Pivovarov/File Photo

3 months of Ukraine war : Miscalculations, resistance and redirected focus

1d | Analysis

More Videos from TBS

Soaring commodity prices put pressure on budget

Soaring commodity prices put pressure on budget

2h | Videos
The alarming effects of the global food crisis

The alarming effects of the global food crisis

5h | Videos
Mangoes from Satkhira going to Iraq

Mangoes from Satkhira going to Iraq

7h | Videos
The dream of building home on moon

The dream of building home on moon

7h | Videos

Most Read

1
Tk100 for bike, Tk2,400 for bus to cross Padma Bridge
Bangladesh

Tk100 for bike, Tk2,400 for bus to cross Padma Bridge

2
A packet of US five-dollar bills is inspected at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing in Washington March 26, 2015. REUTERS/Gary Cameron
Banking

Dollar hits Tk100 mark in open market

3
Bangladesh at risk of losing ownership of Banglar Samriddhi
Bangladesh

Bangladesh at risk of losing ownership of Banglar Samriddhi

4
BSEC launches probe against Abul Khayer Hero and allies
Stocks

BSEC launches probe against Abul Khayer Hero and allies

5
The reception is a volumetric box-shaped room that has two glass walls on both the front and back ends and the other two walls are adorned with interior plants, wood and aluminium screens. Photo: Noor-A-Alam
Habitat

The United House: Living and working inside nature

6
Illustration: TBS
Banking

Let taka slide

The Business Standard
Top
  • Home
  • Entertainment
  • Sports
  • About Us
  • Bangladesh
  • International
  • Privacy Policy
  • Comment Policy
  • Contact Us
  • Economy
  • Sitemap
  • RSS

Contact Us

The Business Standard

Main Office -4/A, Eskaton Garden, Dhaka- 1000

Phone: +8801847 416158 - 59

Send Opinion articles to - oped.tbs@gmail.com

For advertisement- sales@tbsnews.net

Copyright © 2022 THE BUSINESS STANDARD All rights reserved. Technical Partner: RSI Lab