The Last Living Thing Won't Be a Cockroach

What natural events have caused mass extinctions on Earth in the past?

• Only asteroid impacts

• Volcanic activity and climate change

• Supernovas and gamma-ray bursts

• Nuclear wars

What is the primary danger to Earth if a supernova occurs within its "kill zone"?

• The Earth would be pulled into a black hole.

• Earth's ozone layer would be stripped away, exposing life to radiation.

• The Sun would explode due to the supernova's energy.

• The Earth's magnetic field would reverse, causing climate chaos.

How much energy can a gamma-ray burst release in a fraction of a second compared to the Sun?

• Less energy than the Sun releases in a day.

• More energy than the Sun releases in 10 billion years.

• About the same energy as the Sun releases in a year.

• Enough energy to instantly vaporize Earth.

What is the primary way a nuclear war could lead to a mass extinction event on Earth?

• The direct heat from the explosions would incinerate all life.

• Massive amounts of soot would block the Sun, causing an ice age and food shortages.

• The radiation from fallout would make the planet uninhabitable.

• The Earth's orbit would be altered, leading to extreme temperature swings.

What is one potential long-term effect of a large-scale nuclear war on Earth's atmosphere?

• Increased oxygen levels

• A thicker ozone layer

• Depletion of the ozone layer

• Cooling of the atmosphere

What is a unique characteristic of Ginkgo trees that helps them survive for a very long time?

• They can move to different locations

• Their genes don't have programming to tell cells to die and regenerate

• They produce a special type of fruit that attracts animals

• They can change their leaf color to adapt to any climate

What substance found in scorpion blood is thought to help protect them from radiation?

• Hemoglobin

• Taurine

• Melanin

• Chitin

What is a special adaptation of the extremophile Pyrococcus furiosus that allows it to survive in extremely hot environments?

• It has a thick outer shell that insulates it

• It can produce its own cold-resistant proteins

• It has unique molecules that help its proteins stay folded correctly

• It can quickly move to cooler areas when temperatures rise