This morning, National Public Radio aired a short segment on scientific investigation into the origins of the Anthropocene. The story considers the mid-20th century date proposed by the Anthropocene Working Group (AWG) – linked to radiological signatures left from atomic bomb testing – as well as other competing models that have been proposed. I shared a few of my own thoughts on matter too, which you can find in greater detail in the written article, including a much-needed shout out to Heather Davis and Zoe Todd’s writings that link the Anthropocene’s origins to European colonialism.
Update: You can hear an extended version of this story on NPR’s Short Wave (12 April 2021).
Nicholas C. Kawa 