Creating a sustainable human age we actually want to live in.
Anthropocene is reader-supported nonprofit journalism
New research makes the case that it's not enough to consider the planetary impact of a growing population, alone.
Certain salt-loving microorganisms could eat seaweed and produce biodegradable plastics in a sustainable fashion.
A genetic tweak that makes photosynthesis more efficient in plants could increase crop yields by 40%, and help feed millions more people around the globe.
Rapidly shifting "climatic baselines" could hamper the public's ability to recognize human-caused climate change—and tamp down the sense of urgency about addressing it.
The question “What makes us human?” is typically answered in terms of differences. The traits proposed to define us—tool use, language, empathy, and so on—assume that humanity’s essence resides in what sets us apart from other beings.
When people look to nature for solutions to wildfires made bigger, hotter, and more dangerous by climate change, they tend to focus on vegetation—not animals. Yet evidence suggests that big plant-eaters may help prevent fire.
Manufacturing bricks is carbon-intensive and creates toxic air pollution. Recycling treated solid waste to make bricks would keep some of this waste from landfills and reduce brick-making's emissions.
Eating protein-rich algae, insects and lab-cultured meats is more than a dietary fad: it could bring benefits for our health and the environment.
New catalysts made from abundant and inexpensive materials could lead to a commercially viable way to convert carbon dioxide into plastics and other useful products.