Stanford researcher declares that the sixth mass extinction is here (threatens humanity's existence)

[OKIsItJustMe]

https://news.stanford.edu/news/2015/june/mass-extinction-ehrlich-061915.html

[font face=Serif]Stanford Report, June 19, 2015
[font size=5]Stanford researcher declares that the sixth mass extinction is here[/font]

[font size=4]Paul Ehrlich and others use highly conservative estimates to prove that species are disappearing faster than at any time since the dinosaurs' demise.[/font]

By Rob Jordan
Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment

[font size=3]There is no longer any doubt: We are entering a mass extinction that threatens humanity's existence.

[font size=2]Stanford biologist Paul Ehrlich calls for fast action to conserve threatened species, populations and habitat before the window of opportunity closes.[/font]

That is the bad news at the center of a new study by a group of scientists including Paul Ehrlich, the Bing Professor of Population Studies in biology and a senior fellow at the Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment. Ehrlich and his co-authors call for fast action to conserve threatened species, populations and habitat, but warn that the window of opportunity is rapidly closing.

&quot The study) shows without any significant doubt that we are now entering the sixth great mass extinction event," Ehrlich said.

…

"If it is allowed to continue, life would take many millions of years to recover, and our species itself would likely disappear early on," said lead author Gerardo Ceballos of the Universidad Autónoma de México.

…[/font][/font]

[marym625]

1. Wow

[OKIsItJustMe]

2. Yeah… it's kind of a big thing

Let’s see if any politicians mention it…

[marym625]

3. It's huge!

[Warpy]

4. We're adaptable enough to survive

but we will be a very different species, adapted to a new environment.

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

6. As a species? Perhaps.

But you can bet your booty 90% or more of the human race will die off along with those other species.

We didn't 'check ourselves, before we wrecked ourselves'.

[Warpy]

8. Depends on how much methane we're going to have to learn how to breathe

The planet might reboot completely, and to that extent.

[Gregorian]

5. I'm proud to say I have an email from this man in my inbox.

I share his vigilant energy.

Thanks for posting! I just had a conversation (debate) with a friend regarding this notion of when species extinction becomes an indicator of dysfunction. I needed the numbers that he just mentioned. I hate having to convince someone that things are not looking so good. However, it's important to entertain and investigate ways in which we may be incorrect in our assumptions.

[OKIsItJustMe]

7. You’re welcome

As tough as it may be to convince “climate skeptics” that something’s going on, at least they may have noticed changes in their local weather. Noticing the extinction of species is a good deal more difficult.

[daleanime]

9. kick, kick, kick....

[marions ghost]

10. Another article on this topic:

http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-33209548

Good video also:

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/new-report-suggests-earth-brink-great-extinction/

[hootinholler]

11. Has this been peer reviewed yet?

Damn.

[OKIsItJustMe]

12. Yes Science Advances is peer reviewed

http://www.aaas.org/news/aaas-expands-science-family-journals-launch-science-advances

[font face=Serif][font size=5]AAAS Expands the Science Family of Journals with the Launch of Science Advances[/font]

12 February 2014 Ginger Pinholster

[font size=3]The nonprofit American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), publisher of the Science family of journals, plans an expansion of its scientific communication efforts with the launch of a new title, Science Advances, as an extended forum for high-quality, peer-reviewed research.

…[/font][/font]

Here’s the study itself (from Science Advances.)
http://advances.sciencemag.org/content/1/5/e1400253.full

[hootinholler]

13. Thanks for that!

Even though it's really fucking depressing.

I wonder how many billions the Koch Bros Inc will spend to obfuscate this?

[OKIsItJustMe]

14. You're Welcome

Sadly, they don't have to spend much. People don't want to believe it, so all they need to do is give them justification to believe what they want.