From Comets to Space Debris: Assessing Extraterrestrial Impacts on Earth’s Biodiversity

Earth is continuously exposed to a variety of extraterrestrial objects, including comets, asteroids, meteoroids, meteors, fireballs, meteorites, and anthropogenic space debris.These cosmic visitors can have significant effects on the environment, ecosystems, and biodiversity, ranging from catastrophic impacts to subtle, long-term influences.The consequences of such interactions can manifest as habitat destruction, climate alterations, introduction of extraterrestrial materials, and ecological stress, ultimately affecting plants, animals, and humans.This review synthesizes current knowledge on types, frequency, and mechanisms of extraterrestrial impacts, highlighting their direct and indirect effects on terrestrial life.Understanding these interactions is crucial for biodiversity conservation, disaster preparedness, and ecological research, as humanity faces increasing risks from both natural and artificial cosmic debris.