New research from the University of Arizona indicates that extinction rates for many plant and animal groups have actually slowed, contradicting claims of a current mass extinction. The study analyzed 912 species extinctions over 500 years and found that past extinctions were primarily caused by invasive species, while current threats are mainly habitat destruction and climate change. Conservation efforts have shown positive results, such as the recovery of green sea turtles, but climate change remains a pressing issue for other species like arctic seals.