For 50 years, punctuated equilibria has been used to explain sudden species changes in the fossil record. 🦖🔍 But what if this concept goes beyond paleobiology? Here, we're expanding it to geology, molecular biology, anthropology, and even social and technological systems.

We make a clear distinction between punctuated equilibria (as applied to the fossil record) and the more general pattern of punctuated evolution, which involves multiscale feedback besides external drivers. It's a #complexsystems way of looking at evolving systems!

Let's start with #geology 🌋: The #Permian mass #extinction (~250M years ago) caused by Siberian Traps #volcanism wiped out 95% of species. Massive CO2 emissions led to drastic climate shifts, showing punctuated evolution at work on a planetary scale.

Jump to molecular #biology. 🧬Not all #evolution is #gradual. Life can leap forward in bursts in response to external stresses or internal #genomic changes, #epigenetics, #horizontal_gene_transfer, and massive re-arrangements.

Anthropology offers a human twist. 🧑‍🏫 It has been suggested (although it is controversial) that the "Upper Paleolithic Transition" (~45,000 years ago) saw an explosion of human creativity and #technology. Tools, art, and social structures evolved rapidly, punctuating long periods of relative stasis.

Technological evolution mirrors this too.💻 From the Industrial Revolution to the Digital Age, progress often comes in sudden, transformative bursts rather than a smooth continuum. https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.abn3517

Why does #punctuated_evolution matter? Understanding punctuated evolution can help us understand the consequences of climate change. In the Anthropocene, where humans deeply reshape the biosphere, a theory of complex evolutionary trajectories could guide conservation efforts.🌱 #tippingpoints

Takeaway: #punctuated_evolution evolution isn't confined to the past. It's happening now, in our rapidly changing world. By recognizing complex evolutionary patterns, we can better anticipate and adapt to present and future challenges.

The road towards publishing this paper has been complex and punctuated; the trip only made possible by the collaborative efforts of a fantastic team! Salva Duran-Nebreda, @AndrejPaleobio, @bvidiella, Niles Eldredge, Alex Bentley and Mike O'Brien.