Drinks cans and chicken bones: will ‘technofossils’ be humanity’s lasting legacy?
Feb 27, 2025
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What will future civilizations discover about us? Scientists explore the idea of 'technofossils'—the remnants of human existence like plastics and artifacts. These materials could showcase our environmental impact and biodiversity loss. Simple items may tell clearer stories than complex technology. Imagine children's drawings revealing more than our latest gadgets! The discussion provides insight into the legacy we're leaving behind and how future beings may view our time on Earth.
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Quick takeaways
Technofossils, like plastics and chicken bones, reflect humanity's impact on biodiversity and the Earth, representing our enduring legacy.
Future paleontologists may discover modern materials, such as concrete and technological artifacts, revealing insights into our civilization's structure and culture.
Deep dives
The Era of Techno-Fossils
The concept of techno-fossils reflects how human civilization is irreversibly altering the Earth, producing materials that will become fossilized remnants in the distant future. This current geological epoch, often referred to as the Anthropocene, is characterized by significant impacts on the biosphere—such as massive landfills filled with plastic, synthetic materials, and the unprecedented scale of agricultural practices. Experts suggest that items like plastic and polyester clothing will endure for millennia, due to their durability and prevalence in modern life, leading to a lasting legacy that may inform future civilizations about our existence. Interesting observations point to the rapid incorporation of plastics into sedimentary layers, indicating that the fossilization process has already begun, raising questions about how these remnants will be interpreted by future paleontologists.
Impact on Biodiversity and Food Sources
Human activities have significantly diminished biodiversity and altered ecosystems, a phenomenon that future civilizations may discern through the fossil record. For instance, the mass production of chickens, which now outnumber all wild mammals combined, illustrates the profound reconfiguration of animal life on the planet. Future paleontologists might uncover a staggering number of chicken bones that reflect industrial agricultural practices, providing insight into diet and species abundance during our time. This will likely highlight the fragility of these species, potentially revealing issues such as osteoporosis in the bones, indicating a stark contrast between their natural ancestors and the domesticated forms we consume today.
Lasting Legacies of Materials and Communication
The legacy of human civilization will not just be in the items discarded, but also in the materials used to construct our world, such as concrete and metals. The sheer volume of concrete produced, amounting to four tonnes per person per year, will leave distinctive archaeological layers for future civilization to uncover. Additionally, modern technological artifacts, while rare and prone to decay, may leave behind unique mineral imprints that hint at their original use, yet their exact purpose might remain an enigma. Surprisingly, simpler materials like paper could outlast digital technologies, with the potential for children's drawings to survive as a charming glimpse into our culture and daily life, highlighting the contrast between the ephemeral nature of digital communication and the enduring quality of traditional media.
When the palaeontologists of the future search for clues to understand how we lived, what might they find? Two scientists exploring this question have suggested that ‘technofossils’ will be our lasting imprint on the Earth. To find out exactly what these are and what they could reveal about our lives, Madeleine Finlay hears from the Guardian’s environment editor, Damian Carrington, and from Sarah Gabbott, a professor of palaeontology at the University of Leicester and one of the scientists behind the new book Discarded: How Technofossils Will Be Our Ultimate Legacy. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/sciencepod
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