Welcome to the Anthropocene, a new geological era for the world

'This is a big deal,' say geologists. 'We could be looking at a step-change from one world to another'

160108-climate-destruction-trash.jpg
(Image credit: JOSEPH EID/AFP/Getty Images)

We are living in the Anthropocene, scientists say, as a new study suggests our effect on the planet is so drastic that the current geological epoch should be named after humanity.

Geologists and other earth scientists divide time into eras, periods and epochs, with the last being the smallest subdivision. At the moment, we live in the Holocene epoch of the Quaternary period of the Cenozoic era – but that may change.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up
To continue reading this article...
Continue reading this article and get limited website access each month.
Get unlimited website access, exclusive newsletters plus much more.
Cancel or pause at any time.
Already a subscriber to The Week?
Not sure which email you used for your subscription? Contact us