Earth has a new species

In the 4.5-billion-year history of Earth, humans (homo sapiens) are relatively new, appearing only some 300,000 years ago. Evolving over millennia, through various predecessor species, the process has so far been biological and slow. Through this period, various species have been dominant, with those higher up the food chain generally being more powerful — till humans arrived and then made brain power more important than pure muscle power. Meanwhile, many species have become extinct, with human activity being a major factor in hastening — if not causing — this, especially post-industrialization. Historically, then, it should be no surprise if, someday, humans — who have sought, largely successfully — to be the dominant species, lose their pole position. Is that day almost here?