In case you haven't noticed, we are in the age of Pisces.
Prior to Pisces was Aries and Taurus.
Virgo – 12,950 to 10,800 BCE.
Leo – 10,800 to 8650 BCE.
Cancer – 8650 to 6500 BCE.
Gemini – 6500 to 4350 BCE.
Taurus – 4350 to 2200 BCE.
Aries – 2200 BCE to 50 BCE.
Pisces – 50 BCE to 2100.
Pisces is a messianic age. Hence, the number of messengers in Pisces, e.g. Muhammad. The difficulty in scientifically assessing the eras is due to our limited recordings in each era. Once we have collected enough data, we will connect Dots. Big datum, collected over eons, should provide a clue or 2.
We know the what, somewhat. Two of many things we don't know, and the list is only growing longer, is the how and the why. My guess is the minerals in the celestial bodies. As these bodies move closer and further from Earth, the metals and chemicals are altering states in the organisms on this planet. How and why will be known only after multiple iterations of the ages.