Ep 1. What Killed the Giant Insects?

As we journey back to the prehistoric era on Ancient Earth, season 2 kicks-off with a fascinating episode titled 'What Killed the Giant Insects?'. The second season continues to explore the world as it was millions of years ago, and this episode delves deep into a mystery that has confounded scientists for years – the extinction of the massive insects that roamed the planet.

As we journey back to the Carboniferous period, a time around 360 million years ago when the atmosphere was rich in oxygen and the land was covered in dense forests, we encounter larger-than-life insects, some as big as a human hand and others as long as a sword. These insects ruled the planet for millions of years; however, they suddenly disappeared from the face of the Earth. The episode explores the theories surrounding what led to their extinction.

Scientists have studied various rock layers, which hold the fossils of these massive insects, to determine the cause of their extinction. They discovered that while the Permian extinction wiped out most of the species on Earth, the insects died out during the Late Permian period, which puzzled scientists since it occurred around 30 million years before the Permian extinction event.

One theory that scientists explore is the possibility of a massive volcanic eruption around that time, leading to a dramatic shift in the Earth's climate, resulting in the death of these giant insects. The episode takes us on a voyage around the world to find evidence to support this theory. We visit sites with preserved volcanic rock formations that give us a glimpse of Earth's surroundings during the Permian period. Experts also take us through the chemical composition of geochemical traces of volcanic ash and weathering to understand how the volcanic eruption could have caused the Earth to become too hot or cold for the insects to survive.

Another leading theory mentioned is the impact of a massive asteroid or comet that could have caused a shock wave that obliterated the insects and led to massive fires. The episode follows scientists and researchers as they explore the sites for geological evidence in support of an asteroid impact, including the famous crater in Chicxulub, Mexico, that famously wiped out the dinosaurs. The Chicxulub impact also happened much later than the disappearance of the giant insects. While this possibility seems unlikely, the research today seems to have uncovered new data that could challenge the standard theories.

The episode also delves into other questions that disrupt these theories, such as why smaller insects and other species survived and the huge ones didn't. Could it have been the change in the availability of food, or was it because of the increased competition from other organisms?

The show concludes with scientists summarizing the research and theories over the years and concluding that all possibilities are equally plausible. They've discovered new evidence that supersedes most of the theories we've had before and opened new doors into the world of giant insects. Despite having uncovered new data that has challenged previous beliefs, there are still gaps in our knowledge. The episode leaves us to speculate and wonder about what could have been the reason for the extinction of these fascinating creatures.

The latest technology and imaging techniques help us paint a picture of the past and help us better understand the evolution of our planet. "What Killed the Giant Insects?" is an enlightening episode that guides us through the clues left from the past, allowing us to take a step closer to the truth. Exciting new information and discoveries continue and give us so much to look forward to in the next episode of Ancient Earth.