Have you ever wondered about the behind-the-scenes forces behind the vibrant array of plants that surround us? Or have you questioned the tangible but mysterious transformation of our nature over the centuries? Scientists from the renowned University of York have revealed the impact of man on biodiversity.

Our lead researcher on this time-hopping story is Jonathan Gordon, a postdoctoral fellow at the Leverhulme Center for Anthropocene Biodiversity at the University of York. (Sanjana Gajbhiye, more at earth.com)