|
Geologists are in the process of recognising a new human-created epoch: the Anthropocene. The idea is that we have done so much to change the planet that future scientists will be able to look at layers of rock and identify the present moment from the abrupt appearance of plastic, radioactive material and fossilised domestic animals – and a sudden spike in atmospheric carbon.
Jan Zalasiewicz and his colleagues at the University of Leicester have been researching the Anthropocene over the past decade. They place recent climate change in geological perspective and explain how decisions made at the ongoing COP28 climate summit will affect the planet thousands or even millions of years into the future.
We also look at how warfare ruins the environment and just how bad the UK’s economic situation really is.
If you value our expert analysis of climate change or the state of the economy, then please consider donating to The Conversation. It helps us continue our work.
Donate
|
|
Will de Freitas
Environment + Energy Editor
|
|
Mongkolchon Akesin / shutterstock
Jan Zalasiewicz, University of Leicester; Colin Waters, University of Leicester; Jens Zinke, University of Leicester; Mark Williams, University of Leicester
The Anthropocene began quickly, but will last deep into the geological future.
|
RoProy/Shutterstock
Jonathan Bridge, Sheffield Hallam University
War is often described as long periods of waiting punctuated by short periods of terror – for the environment, the reverse is true.
|
Sir Keir Starmer spoke of ‘huge constraints’.
PA Images/Alamy Stock Photo
Costas Lapavitsas, SOAS, University of London
Fixing stagnation requires bold political thinking.
|
Politics + Society
|
-
Luca Bernardi, University of Liverpool; Lawrence Ezrow, University of Essex
Data across multiple decades suggests Starmer will benefit from giving the impression that he is shifting to the right.
-
Katharine Charsley, University of Bristol; Helena Wray, University of Exeter
The new proposals will be devastating to any British citizen who falls in love with a foreign partner.
-
Stefan Wolff, University of Birmingham
The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe appears to be on its last legs.
-
Emma Ireton, Nottingham Trent University
It may be years before we know how successful the COVID inquiry was in its aims.
|
|
Arts + Culture
|
-
Nana Sato-Rossberg, SOAS, University of London
The exhibition showcases how nature coexists with Japan’s major cities.
-
Ruth Starr, Trinity College Dublin
The series addresses the role of samurai, what life was like for women and people of mixed heritage, and violence in Edo-period Japan, with varying degrees of accuracy.
-
Blane Savage, University of the West of Scotland
Scotland has lost a wonderful writer and artist in the Paisley-born artist.
|
|
Business + Economy
|
-
Denitsa Dineva, Cardiff University
Research explains how to handle the kind of online ‘firestorm’ that X (formerly Twitter) owner Elon Musk is currently experiencing.
|
|
Education
|
-
Lucy Gill-Simmen, Royal Holloway University of London
Artists have embraced AI despite the risks to them, educators could learn from their example.
|
|
Environment
|
-
Liam Cassidy, The University of Melbourne; Andrew King, The University of Melbourne; Josephine Brown, The University of Melbourne; Tilo Ziehn, CSIRO
We can’t prevent continued global warming without reaching net zero carbon dioxide emissions. New climate simulations show what might happen when we get there.
|
|
Health
|
-
Samuel J. White, Nottingham Trent University; Philippe B. Wilson, Nottingham Trent University
People who usually suffer from allergies are most at risk.
|
|
Science + Technology
|
-
Owen Johnson, Trinity College Dublin
Previous searches for extraterrestrial life have included only the radio band above 600 MHz, leaving lower frequencies virtually unexplored.
-
Alice Gorman, Flinders University
Sixty years ago, philosopher Hannah Arendt argued an interplanetary perspective may be bad news for humanity as we know it.
-
Chris Impey, University of Arizona
Sound needs matter to propagate, so the vast vacuum of space is not just empty − it’s silent.
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
5 December 2023
•
Birmingham
|
|
6 December 2023
•
Birmingham
|
|
6 December 2023
•
Aberdeen
|
|
6 December 2023
•
Walton Hall
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
|
|
