In 'The Ends of the World', Peter Brannen takes readers on a thrilling journey through Earth's history, exploring the cataclysmic events that have led to the extinction of species and the reshaping of our planet. Through vivid storytelling and meticulous research, he delves into mass extinctions, from the devastating asteroid impact to volcanic eruptions, revealing the intricate dance of life and death on Earth. As he intertwines scientific insights with gripping narratives, Brannen raises urgent questions about our own future in the face of climate change and environmental upheaval. This book not only informs but also captivates, making the past's fury palpable while serving as a haunting reminder of the fragility of life. Prepare to be both enlightened and unsettled as you uncover the dramatic tales of survival and loss that have defined Earth’s history.
By Peter Brannen
Published: 2018
""The past is not dead; it is not even past. Every end of the world carries the seeds of new beginnings, reminding us that extinction is not just a conclusion, but a chapter in the endless story of life on Earth.""
New York Times Editors' Choice 2017 Forbes Top 10 Best Environment, Climate, and Conservation Book of 2017 As new groundbreaking research suggests that climate change played a major role in the most extreme catastrophes in the planet's history, award-winning science journalist Peter Brannen takes us on a wild ride through the planet's five mass extinctions and, in the process, offers us a glimpse of our increasingly dangerous future Our world has ended five times: it has been broiled, frozen, poison-gassed, smothered, and pelted by asteroids. In The Ends of the World, Peter Brannen dives into deep time, exploring Earth’s past dead ends, and in the process, offers us a glimpse of our possible future. Many scientists now believe that the climate shifts of the twenty-first century have analogs in these five extinctions. Using the visible clues these devastations have left behind in the fossil record, The Ends of the World takes us inside “scenes of the crime,” from South Africa to the New York Palisades, to tell the story of each extinction. Brannen examines the fossil record—which is rife with creatures like dragonflies the size of sea gulls and guillotine-mouthed fish—and introduces us to the researchers on the front lines who, using the forensic tools of modern science, are piecing together what really happened at the crime scenes of the Earth’s biggest whodunits. Part road trip, part history, and part cautionary tale, The Ends of the World takes us on a tour of the ways that our planet has clawed itself back from the grave, and casts our future in a completely new light.
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“"The past is not dead; it is not even past. Every end of the world carries the seeds of new beginnings, reminding us that extinction is not just a conclusion, but a chapter in the endless story of life on Earth."”
The Ends of the World
By Peter Brannen
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Peter Brannen is a celebrated American author and science journalist renowned for his captivating explorations of Earth’s geological history and the implications of climate change. His notable works include 'The Ends of the World,' which chronicles the five mass extinctions in Earth's past, and 'The Heat Will Kill You First,' a compelling examination of the dire impacts of rising temperatures on human life. Brannen's writing is characterized by its vivid storytelling, thorough research, and a knack for making complex scientific concepts accessible and engaging for a broad audience.
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