GroovyGreen.com – Start Today :: Save Tomorrow

I found this article on the New Scientist site today and just had to share. It’s a fascinating look at what would happen to the environment–and species around us–if we simply packed up and left tomorrow.

Sure, buildings around us will collapse over time, tree roots will invade roads, and the Alaskan Wildlife Refuge will finally be protected (this assumes that Senator Ted Stevens is not the last man on earth), but the article really goes into length about light pollution levels, electric generation, species rebound, and the amount of traceable chemicals in the oceans, air, and earth. It’s truly humbling.

For instance, after roughly 100,000 years there will be nary a landmark or trace of human existence left to give any indication that we were once such a ‘pinnacle species’. Sure, there will be geological records, as the article states, “For a start, the fossil record would show a mass extinction centered on the present day, including the sudden disappearance of large mammals across North America at the end of the last ice age. A little digging might also turn up intriguing signs of a long-lost intelligent civilization, such as dense concentrations of skeletons of a large bipedal ape, clearly deliberately buried, some with gold teeth or grave goods such as jewelery.”

Also interesting is what species will survive, or ultimately fail, because we won’t be around. Since we’ve introduced so many invasive plants and animals to various regions; without us keeping them in check, their conquest might eliminate those animals or plants native to the area. Bummer. The good news?

“Within a few million years, erosion and possibly another ice age or two will have obliterated most of even these faint traces. If another intelligent species ever evolves on the Earth – and that is by no means certain, given how long life flourished before we came along – it may well have no inkling that we were ever here save for a few peculiar fossils and ossified relics. The humbling – and perversely comforting – reality is that the Earth will forget us remarkably quickly.”

Pay attention, humans. Momma Nature is going to whip our asses and sweep up what’s left of us if we don’t figure out how to play nice. Hit the article for more!

UPDATE: Check out the below image (click) for a graphical view of what will happen once we step aside.