Supercomputer Warns of "Mass Extinction" on Earth

A new study warns that Earth will face a "mass extinction" by 2100, potentially eliminating more than a quarter of the world's living organisms. Australian and European scientists developed a "virtual Earth" to simulate the global extinctions that will occur due to climate change during this century. The findings indicate a 10% loss of all plant and animal species by 2050, with the percentage rising to 27% by the end of this century. Scientists attributed this to "overexploitation of resources, land-use change, overharvesting, pollution, climate change, and biological invasions," according to the British newspaper "Daily Mail." The study was led by European Commission scientist Giovanni Strona and Professor Corey Bradshaw from Flinders University in Australia. The researchers stated, "The Earth has already entered the sixth mass extinction event, driven by human activity and climate change." According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List, there are over 42,100 species at risk of extinction. Bradshaw said, “Children born today could witness the actual disappearance of thousands of plant and animal species by the time they reach seventy, from small fruit orchards and tiny insects to famous animals like elephants and koalas.”