The K–Pg boundary ecological disaster: pandemics and hyper-virulence as significant causes of mass extinction of biological species. Article 1.

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DOI

https://doi.org/{{DOI}}

Published

2025-12-12

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CC BY 4.0

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Open access

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Type

Article

Local ID

2025-0002

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VoR

Citation

Nikolaenko D. The K–Pg boundary ecological disaster: pandemics and hyper-virulence as significant causes of mass extinction of biological species. Article 1. Pollution and Diseases. 2025; 1: 9-58.

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Abstract

A hypothesis has been formulated suggesting that a pandemic significantly contributed to the mass extinction of biological species at the K–Pg boundary. The characteristic feature was hyper-virulence. The pandemic was attributed to a physicochemical factor associated with platinum group elements. Under specific conditions, their characteristics undergo substantial transformation. This is clearly observable at the nanoscale and across various compounds. The K–Pg hypothesis is founded on the observation of a significantly elevated concentration of iridium at the K–Pg boundary. The hypothesis was formulated in accordance with the cognitive framework of infectious ecology. This represents a new fundamental understanding of the pathogenicity of microorganisms and the manifestation of infectious diseases. The selectivity of the mass extinction process at the K–Pg boundary can be elucidated based on the infectious factor. The hypothesis is methodically outlined across a collection of articles. The initial article serves as an introduction. A concise overview of the hypothesis is presented. An analysis of the theoretical and methodological challenges associated with researching mass extinctions is presented. A variety of unresolved problems have been identified in this area of research. Not all of them pertain to the intricacies of the research subject. We are dealing with a fundamentally constrained set of information and distinct occurrences. This inevitably influences the formulation and resolution of issues. However, a vital portion is also connected to the prevailing cognitive standards within the scientific community. The inquiry is examined through the lens of the science of science. Key emphasis is placed on the principles of scientific reasoning. There are several inconsistencies evident in expert analysis. There is a tendency to overlook essential issues that remain unresolved. The impact of hype is notable. Scientific advancements that were not previously directly associated with the topic of mass extinction at the K–Pg boundary can significantly enhance the study of this subject. Examples of such studies are presented. The assessment of problem formulation and solution has been conducted. The K–Pg Hyper-virulence hypothesis has been formulated to elucidate the extinction of numerous biological species at the K–Pg boundary. New foundational conclusions have been established. This annotation pertains to the complete series of articles.

Key words: K–Pg boundary, hyper-virulence, K–Pg boundary pandemic, mass extinction, platinum group elements, logic of science, AI as a colleague in scientific research, hype in science.