IFLScience The Big Questions: What Will The Fossils Of The Future Look Like?

0
12

IFLScience The Big Questions: What Will The Fossils Of The Future Look Like?

IFLScience The Big Questions: What Will The Fossils Of The Future Look Like?

And what will they say about humanity long after we’re gone?

Dr. Russell Moul headshot
The Big Questions: What Will The Fossils Of The Future Look Like?

One person's trash could be a future person's fossil.

Image credit: Tom Meaker/Shutterstock.com; modified by IFLScience

Today’s rubbish may well be the fossils of tomorrow. Plastic bags, old pens, cheap clothing, or even chicken bones are all examples of possible “technofossils”, rapidly accumulating debris and detritus that may come to represent the story of humanity in the geological record long after we’re gone.

The rest of this article is behind a paywall. Please sign in or subscribe to access the full content.

But it doesn’t have to be this way. Host Dr Russell Moul speaks to Professors Sarah Gabbott and Jan Zalasiewicz of the University of Leicester, authors of Discarded: How Technofossils Will be Our Ultimate Legacy, about the fascinating processes involved in turning our trash into fossils, but also how interest in these processes may help us change them.

You can listen to this episode and subscribe to the podcast on all your favorite podcast apps: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podbean, Amazon Music, and more.


ARTICLE POSTED IN


humans-icon

More Humans Stories

clock-icon18 hours ago

comments icon2

clock-icon19 hours ago

clock-icon3 days ago

comments icon2

Site içinde arama yapın
Kategoriler
Read More
Technology
Save over $140 on the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 at Amazon
Best Samsung deal: Save $140.99 on Samsung Galaxy Watch 6...
By Test Blogger7 2025-06-04 12:00:18 0 1K
Oyunlar
I played Hollow Knight Silksong, and it might just be worth the 8-year wait
I played Hollow Knight Silksong, and it might just be worth the 8-year wait As an Amazon...
By Test Blogger6 2025-08-20 13:00:08 0 169
Rehber
The Subway Nightmare: How New Yorkers Endured a Decade of Fear
The Subway Nightmare: How New Yorkers Endured a Decade of Fear - History Collection...
By Test Blogger2 2025-06-01 08:00:10 0 1K
Music
Foo Fighters Drop Surprise Cover of 80-Second Song
Foo Fighters Drop Surprise Cover of 80-Second SongMaya Dehlin Spach, Getty ImagesFoo Fighters...
By Test Blogger4 2025-06-30 19:00:07 0 920
Oyunlar
The best Warhammer game is 50% off right now, but you'll have to be quick
The best Warhammer game is 50% off right now, but you'll have to be quick As an Amazon...
By Test Blogger6 2025-08-12 12:00:21 0 182