The debate over the Anthropocene, explained

The word "Anthropocene" has gained cultural resonance in recent years, as it's become clearer that humans have made an indelible - and destructive impact on our planet. But it's also a term with a specific technical meaning: an epoch, or geologic unit of time, named for humans.

In 2009, geologists first started investigating whether the Anthropocene should be formally recognized as part of the way we record geologic time. This video explains what happened next: how a team of scientists looked for the evidence to make their case, and what it means to consider human time as part of the Earth's 4.6 billion-year history.

Note: The title of this video has been updated. Previous title: Should humans get their own geologic era?