'Made in Inryu' Presses Down on Earth

Weight of Human-Made Artifacts
Surpassing the Weight of Natural Lifeforms by Year-End
Increasing Weekly by the Weight of the Global Population

Seoul city center view. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Junho] A study has revealed that by the end of this year, the weight of human-made objects such as plastic, metal, and concrete created by humanity's proliferation on Earth will surpass the weight of natural living organisms. This is a result of nature being destroyed due to human expansion, leading to geological distinctions.

The international academic journal Nature introduced the research findings of Dr. Ron Milo's team from the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel on the 10th.

The Weight of Artificial Objects Surpasses That of Natural Living Organisms

The research team predicted that by the end of this year, the weight of artificial objects produced or constructed by humanity will approach 1.1 teratons (1.1 trillion tons). In contrast, the total weight of natural organisms is expected to be only 1 teraton. This marks the first time the weight of artificial objects exceeds that of natural organisms (with a margin of error of about 6 years). The team stated, "Even plastics alone will surpass the mass of all terrestrial and marine life on Earth."

The team investigated the total mass of artificial objects and natural organisms from 1900 to the present. Artificial objects included everything from plastic bottles to bricks and concrete, excluding waste. Natural organisms included plants and animals, excluding water from the calculations.

Weight of Artificial Objects Doubled in 20 Years

The weight of artificial objects has doubled over the past 20 years. In the early 20th century, the weight of artificial objects was about 3% of that of natural living organisms. However, as humanity flourished and the weight of artificial objects increased, the weight of natural living organisms sharply declined. This is due to deforestation for farmland and urban development. Since the first agricultural revolution, the weight of plants has shrunk from 2 trillion tons to 1 trillion tons.

According to these calculations, the weight of artificial objects is increasing by 30 billion tons annually. If artificial objects continue to increase at the current rate, their weight is expected to reach 3 teratons in 20 years.

The research team explained, "Some say humanity is just one of many species on Earth and a small presence compared to the world. But humanity's influence is not small," adding, "The numbers prove that." They further noted that this research supports the emergence of the new concept of the Anthropocene. The Anthropocene, proposed by Nobel Chemistry laureate Paul Crutzen, is a geological epoch concept indicating a period when human activities have a profound impact on Earth's environment.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.