Friday, January 25, 2008

A sparrow's flight

Science reports an initiative to make the Anthropocene an 'official' geological term (strangely the report doesn't mention Paul Crutzen, who first suggested it).

But this could be the briefest of all geological eras given that the odds of humans getting through this century may not be better than even. What is Greek for the 'vanishing present'? Something vaguely like, er, the Ekaphanizontaiotigmene? (from εξαφανιζονται + στιγμη)?

OK, maybe we'd better stick with Anthropocene.

P.S. 31 Jan: Mother Jones Blue Marble blog rocks it (thanks DP).

P.P.S. Catherine Brahic blogged it here on 24 Jan.

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