Olson's Extinction: The Permian's Dirty Little Secret Die-off

In one of Charles R. Knight's famous 19th century paintings, an Early Permian dimetrodon (don't call it a dinosaur!) seems to be enjoying itself, happy and carefree, with no idea about the mass extinctions on the horizon. (Credit American Museum of Natural History/Wikimedia Commons) It's the mass extinction you probably haven't heard about, because for a long time researchers have questioned whether it even existed. But a growing body of evidence, including a study published today, has strengthened the case for Olson's Extinction — which played a role in our species eventually dominating the planet, for better or worse (mostly worse). For whatever reason, people seem to dig mass extinctions. At least the ones in the past. Far fewer folk are entertained by (or even aware of) what many researchers are calling the sixth mass extinction, going on right now and all thanks to our own meddling species. But I ...