Twists of fate. (IMAGE)

_Tokyo Institute of Technology

Twists of fate.

Caption

A new study applies machine learning to the fossil record to visualise life's history, showing the impacts of major evolutionary events. This shows the long-term evolutionary and ecological impacts of major events of extinction and speciation. Colours represent the geological periods from the Tonian, starting 1 billion years ago, in yellow, to the current Quaternary Period, shown in green. The red to blue colour transition marks the end-Permian mass extinction, one of the most disruptive events in the fossil record.

Credit

J. Hoyal Cuthill and N. Guttenberg.

Usage Restrictions

The image may only be used with appropriate caption and credit.

License

Licensed content

Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.