PLASTIC STONES: These stones are monstrous anthropogenic composites of plastic, sand, wood, rocks, shells, rubber tubing and fishing junk including nets, rope and anything else melted plastic might adhere to. Because plastic degrades so slowly, these plastic stones are now part of the planet’s geological record; a permanent marker of our civilization. MELTING SNAILS: an acidifying Pacific Ocean has corroded and dissolved the shells of sea snails, a critical food source for fish including herring, mackerel and salmon. Chemical processes triggered by acidification were depleting the carbonate ions needed by corals, mussels and oysters to form their shells and skeletons. SPECIES EXTINCTION: animal and plant species are being wiped out at 1,000 times the natural rate. Welcome to planet Earth!
Posted on: Fri, 27 Jun 2014 06:44:49 +0000