The Extinction of the Giant Insects that Used to Populate the Earth | SLICE SCIENCE

Today, insects are no longer giant except in our nightmares... But 320 million years ago, dragonflies measuring up to a meter (Meganeura) or centipedes the size of a human (Arthropleura) dominated the land and air. Over the course of time, these fascinating giants became smaller and smaller… before disappearing altogether. By combining state of the art scientific experiment, reconstitutions using CGI and interviews with paleontologists, stones will speak and explain why giant insects became extinct. Here is the true story of the conquest of the air.

Documentary: A New Prehistory EP1: What Killed the Giant Insects?
Directed by: Emma Baus & Bertrand Loyer
Production: Saint Thomas Productions for ARTE France

#freedocumentary #documentary #sciencedocumentary #science #scientific #insects #giantinsects #carboniferous #evolution

[gardengeek]

This is as good as it gets in the realm of biology documentaries. Everything we knew about giant insects 60 yrs ago, plus all the subsequent related discoveries and theories.

The animations, maps and use of scientific names are of universal appeal. We even meet the scientists themselves. 5 stars out of 5 ! And many thanks.

[EvanGrunwald-xr]

It's absolutely insane that pangea was a world of its own, like an alien planet...
to be transported to it would be like living in a dream... So cool

[MichaelJwolf]

what we have failed to address is there nymph stage? How much oxygen was in the water? The size of nymph will determine the size of the adult . These insects don’t live very long once they’ve reached this phase in their lifecycle. I don’t believe they grow any more. Perhaps the size was relevant to more of the aquatic environment and food source.

[ineedabetterusername]

19:34 *Giant Centipede* : "YOU SHALL NOT PASS!"

*Giant Amphibian* : [sad Balrog noises]

[BackseatGamingJesus]

Good Science ASMR for sleeping thanks. You pass the requirements - relaxing voice and music, interesting content, and over 30 minutes long.
Subscribed :)

[UNOwen]

The most straightforward reason these (HUGE) insects ('simply') disappeared is for the same reason they APPEARED: the oxygen level of the planet's atmosphere. Since insects breathe through spiracles (tiny little openings in their bodies through which muscular contraction sucks air in and pushes it out, allowing them to inhale and exhale), the higher the oxygen level, the more capable they are of sustaining a large body. However, in an atmosphere such as ours today, it's impossible for the air to get into a 10-foot-long centipede and enable it to 'breathe'.

Simply put, less oxygen in the atmosphere means smaller insect bodies and higher oxygen means larger insect bodies.

There is ONE other vital thing to bear in mind: insects have exoskeletons, and as they get bigger, they need more oxygen, but at a certain point, the weight from carrying the support structure on the outside becomes too unbearable. In other words, there's the topmost limit an insect's body plan can reach—even in a highly oxygenated atmosphere. If I remember correctly, an experiment was done in which larval insects were 'raised' within a sealed, highly oxygenated structure and grew more significantly than usual. These insects couldn't survive outside of this very restricted environment...they were sort of the "insects in the plastic oxygen bubble" (if anybody gets that reference, give yourself a ⭐️😉).

[listo]

They became extinct because they were freakin' DELICIOUS!

[jeffo]

Can you imagine the buzzing sound from a 2 foot wingspan dragonfly? Terrifying.

[sborton]

A comment about the large insects of the Permian period. The hypothesis is that the action of flight also caused compression of the thorax, which pumped oxygen to other parts of the body. I can see a possibility in that for the adult dragonfly. But in it's nymph stage it would not have wings and therefore no pumping mehanism. The nymphs would most likely have had to have been of a similar body size to the adults. So the mystery is not completely solved.
An interesting aside is that due to the insects having an exoskeleton, there were also limits to their size. Their internal organs had to be attached to the outer exoskeleton. This also meant that they could not withstand sudden movements, or abrupt stops well.

[cyirvine]

I LOVE these films! I remember the disappointment of so many adults that stuff like this was not available on the new miracle of TV. Think how smart we'd all be if quality learning shows had dominated TV shows like this?

[JohnShreve-hwzm]

Oxygen makes the air flammable?!? Thats not how oxygen works…

[iichthus]

Oxygen was 35% and CO2 was 4000 ppm. Life thrived and species multiplied . Today oxygen is 21% and CO2 is 370ppm. Just saying.

[LudosErgoSum]

7:34 While the models tjemselves look a bit plastic, the feeding behavior and interactiom between the two animals is very well animated. It looks like they studies real insect behavior to nail down the movements and feeding procedure.

[GreenPoint_one]

As far as I know was Arthropleura a millipede but its unsure when it split from others

[daigreatcoat]

It's a little-known fact that the insects committed suicide while their balance of mind was disturbed. RIP.

[JasmineSinclair-in]

Why would they say humans could not survive in an atmosphere of 35% oxygen? We would do well under those conditions.

[Talltrees]

Looks like the Dragon Fly from the cartoon movie "The Rescueres." Came out in the late 70s.

[wafikiri_]

The last I've heard on the Carboniferous period oxygen levels is that they weren't so different from current, rather similar.

[michaelmacdonald]

@1:30 "Oxygen makes the air extremely flammable." And what is the fuel, nitrogen ?!
That has to be the stupidest . . now I can't believe anything you say, Goldberg.

[paulmichael]

Your house keeping was also involved 😊