A group of scientists is now declaring key evidence supporting the existence of a new geological epoch known as the Anthropocene. 

This epoch, which marks a distinct phase in Earth's 4.5 billion-year history, is defined by the profound impact of human activities on the planet.

Entering the Anthropocene Epoch

Unlike previous geological epochs, such as the Holocene and the Cretaceous, which were shaped by natural phenomena like ice ages and meteorite strikes, the Anthropocene is characterized by the scale and power of human-driven transformations. 

Naomi Oreskes, a professor of the history of science, tells Axios that "we are living in a new geological period, one in which the scale and power of human activities match or even exceed the scale and power of natural processes."

Recognizing the Anthropocene as a new epoch has significant implications. As Axios explains in the report linked above, it offers scientists a new perspective on Earth's history and the effects of human-caused climate change. Epochs help understand species emergence, extinction, and global temperature changes, and predict future transformations.

Humanity: Forever Etched on Earth History

However, the official recognition of the Anthropocene as a distinct epoch is still pending. 

An International Commission on Stratigraphy working group has assessed Earth's potential entry into a new epoch for over a decade. A "golden spike" is needed to designate an epoch, representing the onset of a global change etched into rock, sediment, or ice.

Since 2019, scientists have studied nine global locations, including a Canadian lake and an Australian coral reef, to find the best representative site for an epoch.

The focus is discovering evidence of global-scale changes from the mid-20th century, driven by nuclear weapons testing, industrialization, and globalization.

During this period, markers of human influence like nitrogen and mercury from burning fossil fuels, microplastic pollution, and changes in nitrogen levels due to fertilizer use have increased worldwide. 

The working group will soon announce their chosen site, which records humanity's planet-wide alterations.

What Happens Next

Once the site is announced, the International Commission on Stratigraphy (ICS) and the International Union of Geological Sciences will evaluate whether the Anthropocene should be designated as a new epoch. 

This decision requires supermajority agreement by the working group and the respective scientific bodies.

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If approved, the Anthropocene would join the ranks of other geological epochs demarcated by significant events. 

The proposal for the Anthropocene to be recognized as a formal geological unit is still in progress. It requires scientific justification based on the distinct geological signals recorded in newly forming strata. 

Additionally, its usefulness as a term to the scientific community and other communities is under discussion.

Nonetheless, "Anthropocene" has already gained popularity among scientists, the public, and the media. It serves as a descriptor for the current period in Earth's history, during which humans have become the primary drivers shaping the planet's state, dynamics, and future.

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