ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Shiva hypothesis

Shiva hypothesis is a theory that proposes that mass extinctions of life on Earth occur every 26-30 million years. Imagine that you have a drawer with toys, and every 26-30 days, you take out all the toys and put new ones. This theory says something similar happens with life on Earth, but instead of days, it takes millions of years!

Scientists who believe the Shiva hypothesis think that something big and catastrophic happens in our planet every 26-30 million years. This could be a super volcano erupting, a meteorite crashing, or even some changes in Earth's magnetic field. These events might kill a lot of the animals and plants living at that time, making them go extinct.

But why is this called Shiva hypothesis? That's because Shiva is a Hindu god that represents both destruction and recreation. The name is like a symbol to explain how destruction is also an important part of creation.

Scientists still debate whether the Shiva hypothesis is true, but it's an exciting theory that invites us to understand more about how our planet changes over time.
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