Ep 1. Death Rays

Animal Armageddon is a thrilling documentary series that explores some of the most catastrophic events that have ever taken place on our planet and the devastating impact they had on the animal kingdom. In season 1, episode 1, titled "Death Rays," viewers are taken back to the end of the Ordovician period - around 450 million years ago - when the world was a very different place.

The episode begins by examining some of the early life forms that inhabited the planet at this time, including the trilobite - an ancient, armored arthropod that was one of the dominant species of the Ordovician period. However, the world was about to undergo a massive change that would wipe out over 85% of all species living at the time, and the trilobites would not be spared.

Scientists believe that the cause of this mass extinction was an event known as a gamma ray burst - a powerful burst of energy that occurs when certain stars collapse or collide. This burst of energy would have unleashed deadly radiation that would have swept across the planet, killing off countless species in its wake.

The episode goes on to explore how this radiation would have affected the animals of the time, including the trilobites. Using cutting-edge computer-generated imagery, viewers are transported back in time to witness the sheer devastation that this event would have caused.

One of the most striking sequences in the episode shows a group of trilobites in a shallow sea, going about their daily business as usual. However, as the gamma ray burst hits, they are suddenly bombarded with deadly radiation, causing their bodies to break down and disintegrate before our eyes. It's a chilling reminder of just how powerful these events can be and how quickly they can wipe out entire species.

As well as exploring the impact of the gamma ray burst on the animals of the time, the episode also looks at how the survivors of the event went on to shape the future of life on Earth. For example, it's believed that the mass extinction paved the way for the rise of the jawed fish - the ancestors of modern-day sharks and bony fish - who were able to thrive in the new ecological niches left vacant by the extinct species.

Overall, "Death Rays" is a fascinating and thought-provoking episode that offers a window into the past and helps us better understand the complex and ever-changing relationships between the animals that have walked, swam, and flown on our planet. Whether you're a science enthusiast or just someone who loves discovering new and interesting facts about the world around us, this episode is sure to leave you with a new appreciation for the power and beauty of the natural world.