NEW YORK ¨C Some scientists are trying to name our current geologic epoch after us ¡ª calling it the Anthropocene. That¡¯s no brag, because most of the changes we¡¯re making to our planet are embarrassing.
We¡¯ve caused huge shifts in the plants and animals sharing the planet with us, driven many species to extinction, left a layer of radioactive fallout from exploding nuclear bombs, accidentally changed the composition of our atmosphere, and left a layer of plastic that will in all likelihood still be around in a million years.
Long after time and erosion have turned all our feats of art and engineering to dust, our mess will remain. Naming this era after ourselves is more of a confession. That acknowledgement is a first step toward strategies for minimizing our damaging influence.
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