Dinosaurs, Extinctions & Us examines one of the most transformative forces in Earth’s history: mass extinction. While the end‑Cretaceous event that eliminated non‑avian dinosaurs is the most familiar to the public, it represents only one of five major mass extinctions that have reshaped the trajectory of life. Extinction is a natural process — more than 99% of all species that have ever existed are now extinct — as new lineages evolve and older ones disappear.

A mass extinction occurs when at least three‑quarters of Earth’s species vanish within a geologically brief interval, typically under 2.8 million years. These events often mark the boundaries between geological periods and open ecological space for entirely new groups of organisms to emerge. The disappearance of non‑avian dinosaurs, for example, paved the way for mammals — and ultimately humans — to flourish.

The geological record documents five major mass extinction events. Today, however, evidence shows that we are living through a sixth, driven by rapid environmental change and human activity.

While climate change and extinction have always been part of Earth’s natural systems, the current rate of biodiversity loss far exceeds most past events. Dinosaurs, Extinctions & Us presents the five historic mass extinctions and contextualizes today’s accelerating biodiversity crisis, inviting visitors to consider both the deep history of life and our own role in shaping its future.