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Macroscope

ecosystem

Coined in a 1935 botany paper, carried by one textbook for a generation, then adopted whole by the environmental movement. Now every startup pitch deck rents it.

1920 to 2026, 4 sources

Gestation: first sustained attestation to ignition (ngram)GestationCrystallization: ignition to peak (ngram)CrystallizationIgnition 1969: first crossing of 10% of peak with sustained growth (ngram)Ignition 1969Peak 2022: maximum of smoothed series (ngram)Peak 20220%25%50%75%100%19201930194019501960197019801990200020102020Logistic fit1935-07: Tansley coins it in Ecology1953: Odum, Fundamentals of Ecology1970-04-22: First Earth Day1970-12: EPA founded1972: Limits to Growth2001-09-27: Wikipedia article created ("Ecosystem")

Diamonds are dated events from the historical record. Click one.

Gestation 1920 to 1969Crystallization 1969 to 2022

Measured on Google Books

Growth rate k
0.066/yr
Rise midpoint
1995
Fit quality r²
0.954
Post-peak half-life
still on the plateau

The dated record

  1. 1935-07 Tansley coins it in Ecologypaper
  2. 1953 Odum, Fundamentals of Ecologybook
  3. 1970-04-22 First Earth Dayinstitutional
  4. 1970-12 EPA foundedinstitutional
  5. 1972 Limits to Growthbook
  6. 2001-09-27 Wikipedia article created ("Ecosystem")platform