Question 1

What does extinction mean?

Accepted Answer

Extinction is when a type of plant or animal completely disappears and there are none left alive. It's like when a book is out of print and you can't find a new copy anywhere.

Question 2

Why do animals become extinct?

Accepted Answer

Animals can become extinct for many reasons, like changes in the climate, losing their homes, or being hunted too much. Sometimes, new diseases or other stronger animals can also be a problem for them.

Question 3

Can extinct animals come back?

Accepted Answer

Once an animal is extinct, it cannot come back to life. But scientists are trying to use special technology to bring back some extinct animals, like the woolly mammoth, though it’s not quite possible yet.

Question 4

What is a 'mass extinction'?

Accepted Answer

A mass extinction is when many kinds of animals and plants go extinct in a very short time. It's like when lots of lights go out at once instead of just a bulb here and there.

Question 5

What was the biggest extinction event?

Accepted Answer

The biggest extinction event was called the Permian-Triassic extinction, and it happened a long, long time ago. It wiped out most of the living things on Earth at that time!

Question 6

Will humans ever go extinct?

Accepted Answer

It's hard to say if humans will ever go extinct. As long as we take care of our planet and ourselves, we can keep our chances of survival up.

Question 7

How do scientists know about extinct animals?

Accepted Answer

Scientists study fossils, which are like time capsules buried in the ground. These tell them what extinct animals looked like and sometimes give clues about how they lived.

Question 8

Why are extinctions a problem?

Accepted Answer

Extinctions can be bad because every plant and animal is important in its own way. If one disappears, it can affect others and even the whole environment!

Question 9

What is the most famous extinct animal?

Accepted Answer

The most famous extinct animals are probably the dinosaurs. They were huge reptiles that lived millions of years ago and are no longer around today.

Question 10

What can we do to stop animals from becoming extinct?

Accepted Answer

We can help stop animals from becoming extinct by protecting their homes, like forests and oceans, and being careful not to pollute. We can also support laws that aim to protect wildlife.

Question 11

What is the Endangered Species List?

Accepted Answer

The Endangered Species List is like a warning that tells us which animals and plants are in danger of becoming extinct. It's a way to let people know they need to help save these species.

Question 12

How does climate change cause extinction?

Accepted Answer

Climate change can make it too hot, too cold, or too different for some animals to survive. When their surroundings change too much, they might not be able to find food or a place to live.

Question 13

Were there any extinctions caused by humans?

Accepted Answer

Yes, humans have caused some extinctions by hunting animals too much or by changing the land. Cutting down forests and polluting water can make it hard for some animals to survive.

Question 14

What was the first animal to go extinct because of humans?

Accepted Answer

One of the first known animals to go extinct because of humans was the dodo bird. They lived on an island and went extinct because they were hunted and their eggs were eaten by animals humans brought to the island.

Question 15

Why did the dinosaurs go extinct?

Accepted Answer

Most scientists think that a big asteroid hit the Earth around 65 million years ago, causing big changes to the climate. This made it hard for dinosaurs to survive.

Question 16

Are there any animals that were thought to be extinct but aren’t?

Accepted Answer

Yes, sometimes animals thought to be extinct are found alive. These animals are called 'Lazarus species' just like someone surprising you by coming back after you thought they were gone.

Question 17

What’s happening to animals today?

Accepted Answer

Some animals today are going extinct because of things like climate change, habitat loss, and pollution. It's important to help them so they don’t disappear.

Question 18

Why is it important to save endangered animals?

Accepted Answer

Endangered animals are important because they are part of a big web of life. Saving them helps keep our planet healthy and balanced.

Question 19

What are conservation programs?

Accepted Answer

Conservation programs are efforts to help save and protect endangered animals and plants. They might set up parks, protect habitats, or work to stop hunting.

Question 20

How many mass extinctions have there been?

Accepted Answer

There have been five big mass extinctions in Earth’s history. Each time, a lot of life disappeared, but it also made room for new kinds of life to grow and evolve.

The Science of Extinction: Past, Present, and Future - 20 FAQs Explained Simply