The idea that humans have fundamentally transformed the planet enough to warrant our geological epoch, or Anthropocene, has captured the imagination of scientists and the public alike. A host of evidence—ranging from the mass extinction of large vertebrates to the rise of modern industrialization, the emergence of new geologically significant metals, and the reorganization of the global water cycle—has been put forward as proof that the world entered the Anthropocene, or era of humanity, in the mid-20th century.
But as scientists make the case that we have reached a critical point in human history, another question arises: Is there anything left untouched by our presence?
While many experts have proposed dates for when the Anthropocene started, one of the most robust arguments comes from a study published in Science this year. The researchers argue that a paleontological record of the spread of species during industrialization—including cultivated plants, bivalves, water fleas, and single-celled marine organisms called foraminifera—can serve as an Anthropocene marker, dovetailing with other known markers such as the Great Acceleration in fossil fuel use, dramatic deforestation, and the radioactive signature left by nuclear tests at Pine Island glacier in Antarctica.
Among the foraminifera, the study’s authors found that the distribution of the species changed dramatically during the Anthropocene, with most of the new populations showing up around the globe. When scientists analyzed the sediments that contained these new arrivals, they also discovered traces of plutonium from the atomic bomb test series that began in 1945. They call this “the sharpest signal of the Anthropocene” and suggest it can be used to determine a date for the start of the new geological epoch.
This is only the latest in a series of scientific publications to make the case that we have crossed an unprecedented era. The Anthropocene debate has blown out of the academy and into the media, with scientists, politicians, and even the Pope offering their opinions. While the concept of a new geological epoch is mostly a matter for the natural sciences, it is also increasingly being addressed by disciplines such as art and history that seek to understand how humanity’s actions have impacted the global ecosystem and explore our options for a more sustainable future.
In this session, artists and researchers from across disciplines will share their insights into the Anthropocene and what it might look like in the future. The event occurs on October 26, 2018, at the Art Centre Berlin-Mitte.
