Scientists on verge of declaring the 'Anthropocene' as new epoch in the Earth's history
Some 3.5 billion years after life began on Earth, scientists look set to declare that we're in the first ecological chapter in history created by Man - an era that represents the first where mankind is the dominant influence on the climate and environment.
The idea that we're now in an 'Anthropocene' epoch (from the Ancient Greek anthropos meaning 'man' and kainos meaning 'new') is a couple of decades old, but it's on the verge of widespread acceptance. Professor Jan Zalasiewicz of the University of Leicester has chaired a panel of experts that has spent the last decade reviewing evidence to decide if the concept has merit – and a positive vote was passed last week. 'We look at the issue dispassionately and honestly,' said Prof Zalasiewicz. 'Geology is quite good at that: the rocks don’t lie... We’re all too aware of the wider significance of what the Anthropocene is.'
Full story (The Times - subscription required)
A legendary performance
A video from Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe shows a painted dog pulling off the greatest escape of its young life. Caught in the jaws of a fierce lioness and surrounded by gamekeeper's vans watching the scene, the young pup remained calm and still until the lioness placed him down to attack one of his pack mates. Much to the surprise of onlookers, he then jumped up and ran away. Both dogs escaped the lioness.
Painted Dog Conservation claim that there are fewer than 7,000 painted dogs left in the wild, spread out over 14 countries – these two wily escape artists have earned their place in their number.
A Scottish solution to climate change proposed by a Brazilian
An article in The Scotsman suggests that Scotland re-wilds land used for sporting activities — and in particular deer stalking, which apparently occupies 1.8 million hectares of Scottish countryside.
'Rewilding this landscape with natural forests, and restoring and protecting peatlands, would not only have climate benefits, it could also create numerous economic benefits for both land owners and communities,' claims the article's author, Pedro Moura Costa.
In his author note, Mr Moura Costa is credited not as a climate scientist but instead as a Brazilian investment manager, chief executive of a firm named 'Sustainable Investment Management'. Which makes the whole thing feel a bit like a Saudi banker coming to Britain to tell us off for the state of our offshore wind farms...
Quote of the day
'We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.'
- Oscar Wilde, Lady Windermere's Fan
Entire Roman town discovered next to a motorway in Kent
The remains of an entire Roman town have been found next to a motorway in Kent. The 18-acre settlement contains rare coins, pottery and jewellery which dates back to as early as 43 AD. A seven-metre-wide road was also found, as well as the remains of a temple, both of which prove that the A2 wasn't the only major Roman road in the region.
'This is very exciting.' Said Dean Coles, chairman of the Newington History Group. 'The scale of this site, with the huge number and quality of finds, changes our knowledge of Newington’s development.'
Two recipes to try out on National Hamburger Day
Today is (some may say preposterously) Hamburger Day so to celebrate, here are two mouthwatering burger recipes to cook tonight.
Find the burger recipes from Melanie Johnson and Waitrose here
And finally – a whale politely fights back against accidental pollution...
'You can have this back, thank you.'
Country Life Today: The war on plastic takes aim at drinking straws
In today's news round-up, we look at the latest efforts to tackle plastic pollution; worrying update on what might happen
Country Life Today: The billion-year-old fungi that could rewrite the story of evolution
Fungi has been discovered that could change the story of how life evolved; an insider's guide to spotting seals; how
Country Life Today: Britain's most popular dog, how birdfeeders changed Britain and getting arrested for pebble-picking
The Kennel Club have released their latest stats on dog registration; the RHS are warning about a potential new garden
Country Life Today: Box caterpillars knock slugs off top spot in the RHS's list of pests — but is hope at hand?
This morning we report hope in the fight against box caterpillars, take a look at what really happens when wolves
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If the future of Ferrari is electric vehicles, then it is our future tooIt's widely believed that Ferrari will unveil its first electric car this year. It's the signal that the internal combustion era is coming to an end.
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Gaze over Cap Ferrat in this four-bedroom French villaIgnore the wind and the rain. Imagine yourself in this hillside home with some of the best views the Mediterranean can offer.
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The brilliant tractor tribute to the NHS from a group of Warwickshire farmersPeople around Britain have been paying tribute to the efforts of our NHS workers at the time of the coronavirus pandemic — but few have been as creative and clever as this one.
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London's iconic red bus at risk and 6,000 year old chewing gum gives clues into our DNA historyCuts to industry subsidies and an increase in fares has left bus use at its lowest point ever, while DNA extracted from ancient 'chewing gum' allows scientists to decipher the genetic code of a Stone Age woman.
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90-million-year-old 'swimming dinosaur' skeleton found by dogs out walking in Somerset, and the nonchalant moths who don't bother fleeing enemiesA superbly intact dinosaur skeleton — described as being 'museum quality' — has been discovered on a beach in Somerset.
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Battle to ban 4x4s from the idyllic Lake District spot bequeathed by Beatrix Potter, eagle fights octopus and the 'snail's pace' climate talksThis morning we look at Little Langdale's fight for peace, reflect on the climate change talks in Madrid and discover the soundtrack for Brexit.
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Country Life Today: How Greta Thunberg shifted the dial on climate change — and the backlash shows just how muchThis morning we ponder whether Greta Thunberg is the Joan of Arc for the environmental movement, look at a key election — one from 19 years ago — and ponder the marvel of 'dad tidying'.
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Country Life Today: Great news for those who love our great country pubs — the years of decline are overThere is a great sign of health in the pub industry, we look back at Edward VIII's abdication message and fret about Greenland's melting ice.
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Country Life Today: Spain accused of being 'a deplorable choice' for UN climate conferenceA no-holds-barred assault on the Spanish fishing industry, Banksy raising awareness of the homeless and the woes of the Christmas jumper are in today's news round-up.
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Country Life Today: 'This is perhaps the ultimate wake-up call from the uncontrolled experiment humanity is unleashing on the world’s oceans'In today's round up, we examine why oxygen loss is putting oceans at risk, discover that action to cut air pollution brings almost immediate benefits to human health and find out which bird's arrival marks the start of winter in Gloucestershire.
