Anthropocene – News Stories About Anthropocene - Page 1

Scientists Say We're Not
in the 'Age of Humans'

Mar 5, 2024 11:52 AM CST

Scientists Say We're Not in the 'Age of Humans'

Committee of geologists votes down Anthropocene, citing overly narrow definition

(Newser) - The Anthropocene or age of humans will for now remain an unofficial unit of geological time. A committee of scientists has voted down the idea of the Anthropocene epoch marked by humans' significant impact on the planet after some 15 years of debate. A panel of experts was convened in...

This Unassuming Lake
May Signal a New Epoch

longform

Jun 22, 2023 2:30 PM CDT

This Unassuming Lake May Signal a New Epoch

'Washington Post': Canada's Crawford Lake may be designated 'golden spike' of Anthropocene Era

(Newser) - Crawford Lake in Ontario, Canada, looks like a pretty normal lake. But as the Washington Post reports, the body of water nestled in the Toronto suburbs has one-of-a-kind characteristics that might make it a sign post in human history. Or more precisely, in our planet's history. Scientists will decide...

'Plastic Rocks' Found in
New, Far-Flung Places

Mar 19, 2023 8:46 AM CDT

'Plastic Rocks' Found in New, Far-Flung Places

Plastiglomerates are a 'terrifying' signal of humans' impact on the planet: researcher

(Newser) - Humans have made their mark on the geological record with plastiglomerates—"rocks" formed from a mix of natural debris and plastic, fused together with heat. These rocks were first described in Hawaii almost a decade ago, but they've been seen in far-flung places since then, including a remote...

Artificial Objects Now
Outweigh Life on Earth

NEW STUDY

Dec 9, 2020 2:38 PM CST

Artificial Objects Now Outweigh Life on Earth

This is probably the 'crossover year,' researchers say

(Newser) - At the start of the 20th century, everything created by humans, including buildings and roads, weighed a small fraction of what all the living things on Earth did. But the amount of human-made stuff has been doubling every 20 years while wildlife and plant biomass shrinks, and scientists believe this...

Humans Have Made
30 Trillion Tons of Stuff

Dec 6, 2016 6:10 PM CST

Humans Have Made 30 Trillion Tons of Stuff

That's 110 pounds per square meter of the Earth's surface

(Newser) - Humans have built a ton of things to keep us alive on this twirling little rock: farms, airports, roads, CDs, houses, computers, landfills, and so forth. All these things are known as the technosphere, and for the first time ever—in a study published last month in the Anthropocene Review...

Scientists: Earth Entered a New Age in 1950

Scientists: Earth Entered
a New Age Around 1950

Scientists: Earth Entered a New Age Around 1950

They cast vote in favor of the Anthropocene

(Newser) - If you're under the age of about 66, then big news: You've lived your entire life in the Anthropocene epoch, or the age of man. At least, that what scientists who voted Monday in Cape Town, South Africa, would like to see after seven years spent considering the...