An interactive groundbreaking visualization shows the terrifying truth that human-made materials weigh more than male forms of life on this planet. Leard and the opposing campaigners have added another layer to this bigger picture: dramatic impacts of human activity on Earth’s ecosystems.
The Shocking Dominance of Technomass
That shows the even scarier picture of how today’s activity has impacted our planet with a new interactive visual, BioCubes from a team at Johns Hopkins University
The data-based visualisation shows the mass of ‘the living and the built’ i.e. the biomass (life) and technomass(anthropogenic outputs).
They are alarming results to be sure. An illustration of the increase in human-made materials over natura life from 1900 to the present.
The extent of this change is testament to the effect that human activities have on Earth’s already fragile ecologies. Lead project scientist Prof Brice Menard said: “The capability to observe such information regarding the totality of life on Earth really bedazzles us and offers a contradictory aspect of other non-human activities that dramatically affect the planet’s ecosystems.
The Dramatic Rise of Technomass
The BioCubes visualization aggregates 1.3 trillion units of man-made materials to create this powerful visual representation of just how rapidly humans have filled their world with stuff.
As in the nineteenth century, biomass (the totality of all living beings on Earth including plants, animals and microorganisms) was the supreme power on planet Earth. Yet, as the infographic demonstrates, this changed during just the last century.
Apparently, however, that spread of human design has been astonishingly rapid with the vast majority of the increase occurring during our lifetime. Indeed, in mass term, the technomass (the mass of material made by human) now exceeds everything that the planet’s natural life has provided for us.
But what is most telling about this rapid, unprecedented ascent of human-made materials is the profound influence our species has had on the planet. It basically challenges our old way of thinking of the relationship between nature and human civilization; and poses some serious question about the sustainability of life that is lead at present.
Conclusion
Bio Cubes is a strong provocative reminder. It reminds us that life on Earth has changed so fundamentally that the human imprint now outweighs and outnumbers all other natural life forms.
This is an alarming reality check showing the necessity for a profound Change in paradigm! It is a call for action to the people, governments and industries to put environmentally sustainable methods in use and come up with new ways to reduce their impact on the environment.
Having an appreciation for just how far our reach extends will hopefully set us on the right course towards a future where human advancement and natural ecosystems can find balance with each other. The Bio Cubes visualization serves as a reminder that we truly need to change the way we think about our needs and move towards sustainable practices in order to guide us so epic changes into a more positive direction for the benefit of our Earth.
