• ArbitraryValue@sh.itjust.works
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    7 hours ago

    We’re not the first organisms to alter the atmosphere and cause a mass extinction. The first ones were cyanobacteria and the gas they released was oxygen. They caused

    a decrease in the size of the biosphere of >80%

    We’re descended from the survivors that adapted to a high-oxygen environment but to this day there are many microorganisms that die if exposed to even small amounts of oxygen.

    • TachyonTele@piefed.social
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      7 hours ago

      The great oxidization is what your referring to. It’s pretty impressive. It caused like 90% death to all life, and then life adapted and here we are. It rusted the shit out of the planet too.