In
the context of the Anthropocene, identifying the precise moment at
which the consequences of fundamental human-induced changes in the Earth
system first appear on the planet remains a long-standing challenge.
This is due to the lack of a clear stratigraphic marker for the start
date, as human impacts on Earth’s environments are significantly
time-transgressive and spatiotemporally variable. Our study revealed
that the number of anthropogenic fingerprints in global strata began to
increase abruptly from 1952 ± 3 CE. This signal may reflect the onset of
key human-induced changes in the Earth system, providing unambiguous
stratigraphic evidence. This unprecedented synchronous increase has
potential significance for defining the start of the Anthropocene in the
future.
More than 100 raccoons besiege house of woman who had been feeding them
The woman, who has not been named, near Poulsbo, Washington, called the county sheriff, who sent deputies
Feeding wild raccoons around her home had seemed
harmless enough, if odd, for one woman in the north-west for 35 years –
until about 100 of them surrounded her home and demanded food.
The
woman, who has not been named, was essentially trapped in her home near
Poulsbo, Washington, and scared as the animals can be aggressive. She
called the sheriff’s office, saying the raccoons were around her place
day and night after their population “exploded” about six weeks ago.
determined that it is appropriate to conclude that the small Indian
mongoose (Designated Invasive Alien Species) has been eradicated from a
scientific point of view based on the estimated eradication
probabilities calculated taking into account the definite values of the
mongoose control project carried out by the end of FY2023.
The Ministry of the Environment also considers appropriate to
determine that the eradication has been achieved based on the opinions
from relevant authorities in addition to the conclusion of the above
Examination Panel and today declares that the small Indian mongoose has
been eradicated from Amami Oshima Island.