Anthropocene

Researchers at the Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology criticise how the decision to reject the Anthropocene as a geological epoch was reached and call for an independent review more

A new study uses metabolic profiling to uncover ancient knowledge systems behind therapeutic and psychoactive plant use in ancient Arabia more

Mediterranean hunter gatherers navigated long-distance sea journeys well before the first farmers more

Even the earliest human interactions with tropical forests had irreversible consequences that will continue to impact the environment well beyond the 21st century. more

Jürgen Renn, Director at the Institute of Geoanthropology, discusses the Institute’s concept, the phenomenon of the "Great Acceleration," and the Jena location more

The changing climate necessitates saying farewell to oil and coal. But our society, and especially our ideals of freedom and prosperity, are heavily dependent on the use of fossil fuels. Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for the History of Science in Berlin are investigating just how strong this dependency is and how we can free ourselves from it. more