With their mark on Earth, humans may name era too | Lifestyle.INQ

OCTOBER 27, 2022

his handout image provided by NASA, taken in 2012, shows citylights worldwide. AP FILE PHOTO
his handout image provided by NASA, taken in 2012, shows citylights worldwide. AP FILE PHOTO
This handout image provided by NASA, taken in 2012, shows citylights worldwide. AP FILE PHOTO

 

WASHINGTON — People are changing Earth so much, warming and polluting it, that many scientists are turning to a new way to describe the time we live in. They’re calling it the Anthropocene (AN’-thruh-poh-seen) — the age of humans.

 

Though most non-experts don’t realize it, science calls the past 12,000 years the Holocene, Greek for “entirely recent.” But the way humans and their industries are altering the planet, especially its climate, has caused an increasing number of scientists to use the word “Anthropocene.”

 

More than 500 scientific studies have been published this year referring to the current time period as the Anthropocene.

 

On Friday the Anthropocene Working Group ramps up its efforts to change the era’s name with a meeting at a Berlin museum.

 

RELATED STORIES

Scientists find active community at Earth’s deepest spot

More evidence that Earth collision formed Moon–study

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our daily newsletter

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

MOST VIEWED STORIES

FROM THE NICHE TITLES