Advice | Community | State Reports | Videos | Photos | Blogs
Join | Login
› improve your world
Monday, March 22, 2010
  • Earth Matters

    Browse All » Climate Change Energy Politics Recycling Space Translating Uncle Sam Wilderness & Resources

  • Lifestyle

    Browse All » Arts & Culture Eco-Tourism Health & Well-being Natural Beauty & Fashion Outdoor Activities Pets & Animals Responsible Living

  • GREEN TECH

    Browse All » Computers Gadgets & Electronics Research & Innovations

  • Eco-Biz

    Browse All » Building, Products, Supplies Money & Green Jobs Sustainable Business Practices

  • food

    Browse All » Beer Healthy Eating & Recipes Organic Farming Wine & Spirits

  • Your Home

    Browse All » Around the House Green Building & Remodeling

  • Transportation

    Browse All » Alternative Transportation Cars

  • family

    Browse All » Raising a Family

MNN.COM›

Eco-Glossary

Extinction

 
Extinction occurs when a particular species completely disappears from the planet. Extinction has been going on since life began on Earth, but today, it is happening faster than ever before.
 
Species disappear because of changes that are caused either by nature or by the actions of people. Sometimes a terrible natural event, like a volcano erupting, can kill an entire species. Other times, extinction will happen slowly as nature changes the world. For example, after the Ice Ages, when the glaciers melted and Earth became warmer, many species died because they could not live in a warmer climate. Newer species that could survive a warmer environment took their places. Current practices that contribute to extinction are habit destruction, pollution, invasive species, moving species from the wild into captivity and many others. (Source: EPA / Photo: Flickr)

Recent Stories


Naming our way out of extinction

Wed, Mar 17 2010 at 7:42 PM EST

George Monbiot offers a heart-wrenching plea to raise our collective consciousness about species loss by naming the world's vanishing wonders.


Habitat loss wiping out Europe's butterflies

Tue, Mar 16 2010 at 7:58 AM EST

Butterfly, beetle and dragonfly species across Europe are being threatened by development and logging.


Chinese zoo blamed for death of 11 tigers

Fri, Mar 12 2010 at 9:09 AM EST

Reports said the Siberian tigers starved to death, having been fed nothing but chicken bones, although a zoo manager said unspecified diseases killed them during the harsh winter.


Climate change pushing bird species 'towards extinction'

Thu, Mar 11 2010 at 8:36 PM EST

Birds are a good indicator of Earth's overall environmental health, says Kenneth Rosenberg, a contributor to the report.


Scientists tease DNA from eggshell of extinct birds

Thu, Mar 11 2010 at 8:10 PM EST

Eggshells found to be an excellent source of DNA, which until now researchers thought could only be extracted from bones.


Experts confirm asteroid wiped out dinosaurs

Sun, Mar 07 2010 at 6:43 AM EST

International panel of experts who reviewed 20 years' worth of evidence determines that a massive asteroid caused a 'global winter.'


Scientists find early dinosaur cousin

Thu, Mar 04 2010 at 10:25 AM EST

The Asilisaurus kongwe, discovered in Tanzania, roamed the planet at least 10 million years earlier than the oldest known dinosaur, according to a study.


'Extinct' frog found again after 30 years

Thu, Mar 04 2010 at 9:37 AM EST

Rediscovery of the yellow-spotted bell frog raises hopes that other species thought to be extinct may still exist.


Fossils of snake eating dino eggs identified

Tue, Mar 02 2010 at 4:39 PM EST

Though the fossil was discovered in 1987, the scientist was only recently able to discern the predator surrounding the sauropod egg.


Rare tiger cub found in China dies of malnutrition

Tue, Mar 02 2010 at 9:53 AM EST

The cub was about 1 year old, and was found stuck in a fence just days into the Chinese Lunar New Year.


  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
  • 9
  • >>
  • >|

ADVERTISEMENT

Mother Nature. Delivered.

MNN's weekly newsletter sent straight to your inbox.
Follow us on Twitter Fan us on Facebook


Quick Links

  • Earth Matters
  • Lifestyle
  • Green Tech
  • Eco-Biz
  • Food
  • Your Home
  • Transportation
  • Family

 

  • Advice
  • Community
  • State Reports
  • Videos
  • Photos
  • Blogs

MNN Tools

  • About us
  • Advisory Board
  • Press
  • Sitemap
  • Privacy
  • Terms of service
  • Contact us

All About MNN

  • Join MNN
  • Newsletters
  • RSS
  • Eco-glossary
  • Widgets
  • MNN Contests
  • MNN Lists
  • MNN Mobile
 

Copyright © 2010 MNN Holdings, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Website by GLICK INTERACTIVE | Powered by COLOCUBE
 
SPONSORS