Mammals and birds radiated rapidly after the extinction. The India–Eurasia collision raised the Himalayas and the Antarctic ice sheet formed as Earth began cooling.
Explore the Paleogene Earth in 3D →An asteroid impact (Chicxulub) wiped out ~76% of species including non-avian dinosaurs. Mammals rapidly diversified afterward, forming the basis of modern ecosystems.
A massive Large Igneous Province that erupted over hundreds of thousands of years in latest Cretaceous India. It likely acted alongside the Chicxulub impact in the K-Pg extinction. Some research suggests the impact itself may have intensified the eruptions.
Global temperatures spiked 5-8°C at the Paleocene-Eocene boundary. Caused by massive carbon release — studied as an ancient analog for modern climate change.
India collided with Eurasia, initiating Himalaya formation. Earth's highest mountains fundamentally altered Asian monsoons and global climate patterns.
Whale ancestors, evolved from land mammals, returned to the sea. Over 40 million years they adapted to fully aquatic life, becoming Earth's largest animals.
In the early Eocene, the Arctic Ocean was blanketed by blooming Azolla ferns for millions of years. This drew down atmospheric CO₂ significantly, contributing to the long-term cooling transition from the warm Eocene toward the modern icehouse climate. It is studied as an ancient model for biological carbon sequestration.
A large asteroid impact in the late Eocene, creating a ~100 km crater in present-day Siberia. Its timing coincides with the abrupt cooling at the Eocene-Oligocene boundary (Grande Coupure), though it is not considered the primary cause. The impact also created one of the world's largest deposits of impact diamonds.
Circumpolar currents formed around Antarctica, initiating permanent ice sheets. Earth transitioned to the modern icehouse climate.
Grasses spread rapidly, forming vast grasslands. This drove evolution of running herbivores like horses and antelope, fundamentally transforming ecosystems.