Story

The linked article is about a study that investigated the impact of increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) levels on plants in the Mesozoic Era, approximately 252-66 million years ago. The researchers used a combination of experimental and modeling approaches to demonstrate that higher CO2 levels during that period likely contributed to the evolution of larger plant sizes and enhanced photosynthetic rates, which in turn supported the emergence and diversification of large herbivorous dinosaurs. The findings shed light on the complex interplay between atmospheric composition, plant physiology, and ecosystem dynamics in Earth's ancient past.