The article delves into the significant geological and biological events that occurred around 444 million years ago, marking the end of the Ordovician period and the beginning of a major extinction event. The main keyword, “What happened 444 million years ago,” addresses the search intent of users looking to understand historical Earth events and their impact on life. The content offers a detailed exploration of the extinction event, its causes, and its consequences for the evolution of life on Earth, making it valuable for webmasters seeking to provide informative and engaging content on paleontology, geology, or Earth history.