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The concept of the Anthropocene, which refers to the major planetary shift caused by human impact, has faced criticism and rejection. Despite this, the reality of the Anthropocene remains, as evidenced by the significant changes in various parameters, particularly in the past century. The Anthropocene was never meant to encompass all human impacts, but rather to recognize the departure from the stable Holocene period. The impacts of the Anthropocene, such as climate change and irreversible biological changes, are profound and will have long-lasting effects. The existence of Anthropocene strata, containing distinctive markers of human activity, further supports its geological significance. The resistance and misunderstanding of the Anthropocene may stem from discomfort and the need to confront contemporary problems. Recognizing our role in shaping the future is crucial for adapting to the resulting changes. [Extracted from the article]

The white roof fan club is getting bigger Letters, 2 September From Robert Checchio, Dunellen, New Jersey, US Reader Geoff Hammond might not see white roofs where he lives in the UK, but here in the US they aren't uncommon, or at least they are a choice. Or the close pass of its planet to a star may have increased the temperature and pressure of magma so much that it fired a rod of frozen lava upwards from a volcano fast enough to escape from a small planet. I have tried to reverse-engineer this claim using rainfall data and crop yields, and this is only explicable on the basis that every drop of rain that falls on a plantation is somehow taken out of circulation. [Extracted from the article]

The article discusses the relationship between stars, energy, cells, atoms and the evolution of life on planet Earth, including in regard to the calcium in bones that were developed in stellar evolution. An overview of the development of water on Earth, including the water molecules within the digestive system of a brontosaurus and the development of oceans, is provided.

The article discusses the geological impact of human warfare, particularly mechanized war, and how it could be preserved in the geologic record. Topics include "bombturbation" or the bioturbation of land caused by bombs rather than the burrowing activities of animals; the impact of rubble, unexploded ordnance, bullets, unclaimed bodies, and chemical weapons on the landscape and the ocean floor; and the impact of nuclear weapons, nuclear testing, and sunk nuclear reactions and submarines.

The article discusses the presence of water on Earth and in other bodies of the solar system, the evolution of life, and the possibility of life on other planets and moons. Topics include how water on Earth made life possible and how microbial life eventually modified the atmosphere to be more habitable, past water on Mars and Venus, the presence of subsurface oceans on Saturn's moons Titan and Enceladus, and conditions that would make life possible in the habitable zone of other star systems.

Discusses the history of the formation of Earth's continents. Difficulty of studying the history of the Earth's crust since geological processes have wiped out evidence; How continental shifts affect oceanic crust which is generally simpler and younger; How the subduction process in which oceanic crust is forced to sink back in the mantle underneath continental crust may have contributed to the development of continents.

Explains how microbes survived in mucus for billions of years. Evidence of microbial mats of slime on the ocean floor 3.5 billion years ago; Questions as to the existence of microbial slime mats on land; Microbial mats' roles in the lifestyles of the Ediacarans.

Describes pyroclastic density currents from volcanic eruptions and offers different explanations of how they operate and why they are present only in some eruptions. The ash hurricane theory, which proposes that the particles in burning clouds are far apart, held together by air vortices and gravity; The fluid analogy; Ignimbrite; Layers theory, which accounts for the erratic expansion of the clouds; Difficulty of observing. INSETS: Waiting for the big one;Close encounters.

Ponders what will be the legacy left by humans after their extinction. Remains of the dinosaurs; Human skeleton fossils; Trace fossil systems, such as roads, houses, and foundations; Process of fossilization; Effect of sea-level changes on sedimentary records; Preservation of plastics; Heavy metal pollution from industry. INSET: Flesh and blood, by Kim Freedman.

Reports on efforts to explain the fossils of graptolites. Colonies of filter-feeding animals; Leap into open ocean; Remnants of colony structures; Discovery of living graptolites; Resemblance to pterobranch zooids; Result of scanning electron microscope study; Skepticism and debate. INSET: Floating and feeding..

The authors discuss the life and work of the French naturalist the Comte de Buffon, also known as Georges-Louis Leclerc, particularly his work "Les Époques de la Nature (The Epochs of Nature)," and his insights on the Earth's climate. The article also discusses Buffon's driving ambition as a motivating factor in his success as a naturalist and author.

In this article the author discusses a debate over whether the impact of human activity on planet Earth is so great and will last so long that it deserves to regarded as a geological epoch. Topics include the effects of human activities that led to chemist Paul Crutzen's idea of naming an epoch shaped by humans, called the Anthropocene, the creation of artificial minerals, such as tungsten carbide, and the reshaping of the biosphere by species invasions and extinctions.