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Adam Walton and guests explores the five mass extinctions that our planet has seen in its history, and discusses the sixth event, which some scientists say is already underway.

The Earth has seen five mass extinctions where a huge number number of its species have – in geological terms - vanished overnight. The asteroid impact which brought the curtain down on the dinosaurs is the most well-known, but before that there were several other events which had an even greater effect. Now scientists are warning that the sixth great mass extinction in Earth’s history is under way,Ìý

ÌýJoining Adam in the studio areÌýProf. Paul Pearson from Cardiff University’s School of Earth and Ocean Sciences; Dr. Chris Cleal, Head of Vegetation History at the National Museum Wales; and Dr. Jan Zalasiewicz

The programme asks if we’re on the brink of another great mass extinction. And if we are, is there anything we can do about it? I’ll also be exploring the great mass extinctions of the past. Why did they happen? And what was their long-term impact?

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