Anthropocene

A type of coral trout called the leopard trout (Plectropomus leopardus) swims on the Great Barrier Reef.

Fishing Bans Create a Glimmer of Hope on the Great Barrier Reef

No-take reserves have helped commercially important species bounce back, but the reef still faces some serious threats

The highest summit of the Jade Dragon (Yulong Xueshan) from what in 1985 was close to the center of the old town of Lijiang, China.

Why the World Needs to Go to Great Heights to Save Mountain Habitats

After 30 years working in mountain regions, Jack Ives argues that the world's elevated habitats are essential

National Museum of Natural History.

Watch Highlights From the Smithsonian's "Age of Humans" Symposium

Experts on the science, economics and innovations of climate change spoke at this one-day event in Washington, D.C.

Good reads about our home planet.

Five Must-Read Books About Earth

Geologist Robert M. Hazen selects works spanning genres that offer insights into our planet's history and inner workings

Replicas of English sailing ships on the James River — similar ships would have brought English colonists to Jamestown in 1607

Did the Age of Humans Begin in 1610?

Debate over when the Anthropocene began is starting to narrow in on a few dates — 1610, when the Old World met the New, is one promising candidate

According to a statement released last year, the Smithsonian believes that humans are a cause of climate change.

Climate Change Researcher Received Funds From Fossil Fuel Industry

A Smithsonian-connected scientist is accused of failing to properly disclose his backers

The Cliff Palace in Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado was abandoned hundreds of years ago, probably because of a severe drought. Scientists now predict that the region could experience an even worse megadrought in the latter half of the 21st century.

The Western U.S. Could Soon Face the Worst Megadrought in a Millennium

Climate models predict that the region will be drier than the droughts that likely caused ancient Native Americans to abandon their pueblo cities

The abandoned city of Machu Picchu is one legacy of the Spanish conquest of the Incas. Traces of air pollution in a Peruvian ice cap are another.

Spanish Conquest of the Incas Caused Air Pollution to Spike

A sample of Peruvian ice has revealed a surge in pollution linked to mining that wasn't exceeded until the Industrial Revolution

To reduce carbon dioxide emissions, the world would need to leave some 80 percent of current coal reserves in the ground, according to a new study.

To Meet Global Warming Targets, Leave Fuels In the Ground

Hefty percentages of fossil fuels need to remain untapped to curtail the rising global temperature

The Claudio Aqueduct was built in the 1st century along the Appian Way in Rome.

Ancient Roman Water Networks Made the Empire Vulnerable

A model of ancient water movement shows how trade practices might affect today's urban centers as the climate changes

An aerial view of the lower portion of the Colorado River shows the leading edge of the water pulse flow on May 12, before it connected with the sea.

The Colorado River Delta Turned Green After a Historic Water Pulse

The experimental flow briefly restored the ancient waterway and may have created new habitat for birds

A fossilized leaf from the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum sits in the Wyoming snow.

Ancient Earth Warmed Dramatically After a One-Two Carbon Punch

A period of intense warming 55 million years ago is an even better case study for modern climate change than previously suspected

G. Wayne Clough

Why Engineering Will Be Vital in a Changing Climate

Smithsonian Secretary G. Wayne Clough offers personal insights on the realities of climate change and the best ways for society to adapt

The world's favorite edible bird.

Chinese Chickens May Have Been Domesticated 10,000 Years Ago

Bones found in ancient farming sites are lending insight into the origins of our favorite fowl

Hunting and gathering, Metro sapien-style, in Vancouver's Granville Island Public Market.

Humans Are Becoming City-Dwelling "Metro Sapiens"

To achieve sustainability, the human species needs to embrace its urban side, argues public health researcher Jason Vargo

The dense metropolis of Tokyo sparkles like an urban playground at night.

Are Megacities Friend or Foe in the Fight Against Climate Change?

Like the people who call them home, cities have the potential for good and bad when it comes to adapting to a warming world

An algae bloom off the coast of Maryland. Such blooms help create low-oxygen areas called dead zones as the algae respire or decompose.

Ocean Dead Zones Are Getting Worse Globally Due to Climate Change

Warmer waters and other factors will cause nearly all areas of low oxygen to grow by the end of the century

Moon jellies (Aurelia aurita) drift in dark waters at the Sunshine International Aquarium in Tokyo.

Big Moon Jelly Blooms Tied to New Dock Construction

A floating pier installed off Japan led to a four-fold increase in baby jellies, offering a solid link between structures and blooms

Crop irrigation in arid regions, such as California’s San Joaquin Valley, can lead to overly salty soils.

Earth’s Soil Is Getting Too Salty for Crops to Grow

Buildup of salts on irrigated land has already degraded an area the size of France and is causing $27.3 billion annually in lost crops

John Kress takes the stage at the Smithsonian symposium "Living in the Anthropocene".

From Pandemics to Pandas, Get the Scoop on Hot Topics Discussed at the Smithsonian's Anthropocene Event

At the National Museum of Natural History, leading minds met to discuss the impact of climate change on, well, everything

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