By integrating pyrogenic carbon records with archaeological data, we propose that intensified human global expansion, population growth, and rising demand for fire use during cold glacials resulted in a surge in fire use since approximately 50,000 y ago., Fire is a pivotal aspect of human involvement in the carbon cycle. However, the precise timing of the large-scale human fire use remains uncertain. Here, we report a pyrogenic carbon record of East Asian fire history over the past 300,000 y from the East China Sea. This record suggests a rapid incre …, This study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), highlights the presence of charred plant remains — known as pyrogenic carbon — formed when vegetation burns but is not completely consumed by fire. The research reveals a notable increase in fire activity across East Asia approximately 50,000 years ago., (CN) — Researchers from the Institute of Oceanology at the Chinese Academy of Sciences have uncovered compelling evidence of a sharp increase in human-driven fires beginning approximately 50,000 years ago. The findings provide groundbreaking insights into the evolution of human behavior and its growing impact on our planet. The team analyzed pyrogenic carbon, fire-derived chemicals, found in , This study aims to integrate molecular biomarkers of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) with sedimentary records of charcoal and black carbon to evaluate and determine the role of human, .