Zink, L., Xu, E.G., Brander, S.M., Bain, A., Carney Almroth, B., Bertram, M.G. 2026. Anthropogenic novel entities in the Earth system. Curr. Biol. 36, R1079–R1129. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2026.02.018 | PDF
BACKGROUND
The term ‘novel entities’ refers to anthropogenic substances and materials that have the potential to disrupt natural processes across the spheres of Earth — the lithosphere (land), hydrosphere (water), atmosphere (air), and biosphere (living things). The ‘planetary boundaries framework’, within which novel entities were defined, identifies boundaries of the safe operating space of Earth, which, if crossed, may lead to dangerous and irreversible changes. Generally, novel entities of planetary concern are those substances that are persistent, mobile, and potentially harmful. Novel entities include new chemicals, modified life forms, and engineered materials (Figure 1).
