New Google Earth timelapses show impact of human life on planet

The Columbia Glacier in Alaska is among the sites visited in new timelapse videos from Google Earth illustrating the impact of human life on the planet. — Google/dpa

Google Earth, the online atlas you once used to look up your house and then never returned to, has gained a new feature relevant to all humanity, one that depicts the impact of human life on the planet.

Urban expansion, mining, deforestation and agricultural development - a new timelapse function on the website lets you watch decades of change to specific regions in a few eye-opening seconds.