7 billion people, 1 Earth.

• Position: NEWS & TRENDS - Brief article

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The people squeezing like sardines into this pool in China's Sichuan Province probably wouldn't be surprised to learn that the planet is getting more crowded: According to the United Nations, the world population hit 7 billion on October 31--just 12 years after it reached 6 billion. By contrast, after the global head count topped 1 billion in 1804, it took 123 years--until 1927--before it reached 2 billion. The...