Scientists Jan Zalasiewica and Erle Ellis on the recent decision to reject a proposal for a new geological epoch, the Anthropocene. Listen to The Conversation Weekly podcast.

The idea cannot be stopped, even if geologists have voted not to recognise a new epoch.

The idea cannot be stopped, even if it’s not an official geological epoch.

Geologists recently voted down a proposal to formally recognise the Anthropocene.

Scientists have been debating the start of the Anthropocene Epoch for 15 years. I was part of those discussions, and I agree with the vote rejecting it.

Hermit crabs have been using plastic waste such as bottle tops as homes instead of empty snail shells.

Sarah Nance uses geologic data and a variety of artistic media to help people think about their place in the landscapes they use and occupy.

The Anthropocene began quickly, but will last deep into the geological future.

Britain has lost large areas of semi-natural habitat since the 1930s.

Long before thermometers, nature left its own temperature records. A climate scientist explains how ongoing global warming compares with ancient temperatures.