There are over 7 billion people living on the earth right now. Tens of millions are born and die each year. Every single one of us leaves signs of our existence in the air, water, soil -- even space.

What species will become the next rulers of Earth when humans are no longer dominant? Which creatures might inherit the throne?

"Humans are the only example we know of, and our industrial civilization has lasted (so ... of the time that complex life has existed on the Earth's land surface." "This short time period raises ...