Studies of fossilised remains indicate that, every 20 to 30 million years, life on Earth experiences a sudden and mass extinction of all or most of its dominant species. Yet, in each case, within some 5 to 10 million years the diversity of species on the planet is as great, if not greater, than it had been previously, since the demise of the dominant species allows more minority species to flourish. Whatever disasters we may wreak on the planet, life in the long term will not only survive but actually increase in richness and diversity.