Scientists now say a new epoch – the Anthropocene, marked by human impact on Earth – began in 1950s

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “It’s no longer just influencing Earth’s sphere, it’s actually controlling.” The burning of coal, oil and gas that’s changing Earth’s climate and atmosphere, nuclear bomb detonations spotted in soil around the globe, plastics and nitrogen from fertilizers added on land and dramatic changes to species that make up the rest of the Earth characterize the new epoch, scientists said. “The remarkably preserved annual record of deposition in Crawford Lake is truly amazing,” said U.S. National Academies of Sciences President Marcia McNutt, who wasn’t part of the committee. “It is just as important to the beginning of an era dominated by one category of Earth species as it is to mark the end.” The Anthropocene — derived from the Greek terms for 'human’ and ‘new’ — shows the power and the hubris of humankind, several scientists told The Associated Press. “If we don’t address the harmful aspects of human activities, most obviously disruptive climate change, we are headed for tragedy.” ___ Follow AP’s climate and environment coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/climate-and-environment ___ Follow Seth Borenstein on Twitter at @borenbears ___ Associated Press climate and environmental coverage receives support from several private foundations.