When did humans start altering the planet?

No one will disagree that people are having a deep impact on the planet – and not all of it is good. But there is debate o... [Click here to view this message in your web-browser](. Edition: US 31 August 2019 [The Conversation]( Academic rigor, journalistic flair [Martin LaMonica] A note from... Martin LaMonica Deputy Editor No one will disagree that people are having a deep impact on the planet – and not all of it is good. But there is debate over whether the Earth has entered into a new geological age, which some researchers call the Anthropocene. In a study published this week, a group of archeologists weighed in on this question. Using data collected from around the world, they map out how and when people shaped the land they lived on. In the process, they concluded that 3,000 years ago, most of the planet was already largely transformed by people – [earlier than previously thought](. Some other stories for your weekend: - [The challenge of evacuating older people during hurricanes]( - [What an economist learned by taking an 18-hour flight]( - [Why is the U.S. greenback green?]( People have been modifying Earth – as in these rice terraces near Pokhara, Nepal – for millennia. Erle C. Ellis [Surveying archaeologists across the globe reveals deeper and more widespread roots of the human age, the Anthropocene]( Ben Marwick, University of Washington; Erle C. Ellis, University of Maryland, Baltimore County; Lucas Stephens, Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History; Nicole Boivin, Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History Hundreds of archaeologists provided on-the-ground data from across the globe, providing a new view of the long and varied history of people transforming Earth's environment. U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson shakes hands with Queen Elizabeth II. Victoria Jones/Pool via AP [Why the queen said yes to Boris Johnson’s request to suspend Parliament]( Laura Beers, American University The U.K. prime minister sought to suppress Parliamentary opponents, saying he – not they – represents the will of the British people. It put Queen Elizabeth II in a real bind. Wild boar in a swamp in Slidell, Louisiana. AP Photo/Rebecca Santana [Feral pigs harm wildlife and biodiversity as well as crops]( Marcus Lashley, Mississippi State University Feral pigs are a destructive invasive species across much of North America. In a recent study, forest patches where feral pigs were present had fewer mammal and bird species than swine-free zones. - [How an ancient Islamic holiday became uniquely Caribbean]( Ken Chitwood, University of Florida Hosay, a religious ritual performed by Trinidadian Muslims, combines the somber Islamic observance of Ashura, brought by immigrant Indians, and the joy of Trinidad's famous carnival. - [Can sun umbrellas ever become fashionable again in America?]( Jonathan Coopersmith, Texas A&M University In Asian countries, many people wield umbrellas to protect them from the sun. American women used to as well – but then stopped. - [Hurricane evacuation of nursing home residents still an unsolved challenge]( Lindsay J. Peterson, University of South Florida; Kathryn Hyer, University of South Florida Hurricane season presents special dangers for elders, particularly for those in nursing homes and assisted living. Research indicates sheltering-in-place may actually be less risky than evacuating, at times. - [Curious Kids: Why is money green?]( Jonah Estess, American University The color of American money goes back to the British colonies. - [Why would anyone want to sit on a plane for over 18 hours? An economist takes the world’s longest flight]( - [These college rankings focus on schools that help students get ahead]( - [Worker-protection laws aren’t ready for an automated future]( - [These are the customers who support sex trafficking in the US]( - [Blinking lights don’t make a better knee brace – fighting cognitive biases in testing orthopedic devices]( Video of the day - [Enable images to see the chart]( [Our images of Saturn improved dramatically 40 years ago with Pioneer 11]( Know people who may be interested in The Conversation's stories? [Click here to forward this newsletter to them]( and ask them to sign up at [Follow us on Twitter.]( [Join us on Facebook.]( You’re receiving this newsletter from [The Conversation](. Not interested anymore? [Unsubscribe instantly](. We’ll miss you. 89 South Street - Suite 202 Boston, MA 02111