Originally posted by inimalistso why is it that president cabinet members and foreign members from many countries were included?
stuff you see on TV rarely is scientifically accurateit is made to, as you note, make money. Sensational claims do this, not rational discussion of potential problems.
Discovery and History networks are notorious for this, and they will milk the sensational aspects of pseudo-science for the fact that people will tune in and advertisers will pay.
Originally posted by Colossus-Big C
so why is it that president cabinet members and foreign members from many countries were included?
those individuals rarely have a scientific background or any relevant scientific training.
likely they were included because the interview they gave produced sound bites which could be edited such that the video producer got the end result they wished.
not to mention, even the shows producer says it is not a prediction, but a worst case scenario that is only possible if everything that could possibly go wrong does. It is sensational scare-mongering that clearly is effective at garnering an audience, rather than a sober prediction about what might happen.
http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/Earth2100/story?id=7736882&page=1
Originally posted by Symmetric Chaos
I can't think of many species able to live in as many different places and climates as humans. Baring another planet destroying asteroid wiping out every human on the planet would be incredibly difficult.
Asteroids? Those are irrelevant.
If Earth's living conditions become unbearable - seeing how Earth was an ice ball at one point, it was also a fire ball at another, the Earth itself will wipe us all out.
250 + million years ago, during the Permian-Triassic extinction over 90% of all life on earth was extinct.
Increased volcanism, fluctuation in sea levels and formation of various gasses in the atmosphere have nothing to do with our adaptation techniques.
Originally posted by lil bitchiness
Increased volcanism, fluctuation in sea levels and formation of various gasses in the atmosphere have nothing to do with our adaptation techniques.
Living in air tight and content ratio regulated environments is technology that is 50+ years old.
When pushed against the wall, we'd easily be able to adapt, on some level, to a slightly different atmosphere.
With gene therepy already being done, just giving out an injection to adpat the body is not that far off...but we still have a decade or two before that's an option.
Originally posted by dadudemon
Living in air tight and content ratio regulated environments is technology that is 50+ years old.When pushed against the wall, we'd easily be able to adapt, on some level, to a slightly different atmosphere.
With gene therepy already being done, just giving out an injection to adpat the body is not that far off...but we still have a decade or two before that's an option.
Oh right! And what injection will save us from sea level fluctuations and over active volcanic activity?
Maybe we can go to Earth's core and just ''extinguish it'' or something
Originally posted by lil bitchiness
Asteroids? Those are irrelevant.
If Earth's living conditions become unbearable - seeing how Earth was an ice ball at one point, it was also a fire ball at another, the Earth itself will wipe us all out.
Has zero chance of suddenly turning into a fireball again given that that was caused by it forming in the first place.
As for cold weather Earth better hope that human have never survived near the Poles (they have) or developed jackets (they have) or invented radiators (they have).
Originally posted by lil bitchiness
Increased volcanism
If only there were some way to travel from point to point thus avoiding areas in which volcanoes might erupt.
Originally posted by lil bitchiness
fluctuation in sea levels
There are already plans to develop of sort of device that can not only float on water but use it for travel. It would be amazing but, yes I'm sure they won't be developed within the scant thousand years it would take for the entire planet to flood.
Originally posted by lil bitchiness
formation of various gasses in the atmosphere have nothing to do with our adaptation techniques.
I'm thinking masks. Masks that filter out dangerous gases. Danger masks? Mask de-gassers? Something like that. Anyway, patent pending!
Originally posted by lil bitchiness
Oh right! And what injection will save us from sea level fluctuations and over active volcanic activity?
Cause no plants can be grown in artificial lights, no food can be synthesized (from microbes, even), and no life can exist when the polar icecaps are mostly melted, right?
And, you jest, but, an injection could very well save us from pretty much anything you think of. When you can adapt the genome to pretty much anything you want to (from an ultra-tight and hardened dermis with the ability to store oxygen (bounded and released through a metablolic process, mind you) to even survive in a vacuum.)
Originally posted by dadudemon
Cause no plants can be grown in artificial lights, no food can be synthesized (from microbes, even), and no life can exist when the polar icecaps are mostly melted, right?And, you jest, but, an injection could very well save us from pretty much anything you think of. When you can adapt the genome to pretty much anything you want to (from an ultra-tight and hardened dermis with the ability to store oxygen (bounded and released through a metablolic process, mind you) to even survive in a vacuum.)
Originally posted by Symmetric Chaos
Has zero chance of suddenly turning into a fireball again given that that was caused by it forming in the first place.As for cold weather Earth better hope that human have never survived near the Poles (they have) or developed jackets (they have) or invented radiators (they have).
If only there were some way to travel from point to point thus avoiding areas in which volcanoes might erupt.
There are already plans to develop of sort of device that can not only float on water but use it for travel. It would be amazing but, yes I'm sure they won't be developed within the scant thousand years it would take for the entire planet to flood.
I'm thinking masks. Masks that filter out dangerous gases. Danger masks? Mask de-gassers? Something like that. Anyway, patent pending!
As I already addressed, (but you chose to ignore it) Permian-Triassic extinction killed over 90% of life on earth - this was the only known mass extinction of insects not to mention that 250 mill later the effects are still felt today.
Thus, shit that lived in ridiculous conditions then, failed to survive that particular ice age.
On top of that, creatures with complex food chains and complex systems (like us) will and have taken significantly longer to recover any such conditions.
The fact is that we are not independent of Earth (unless you believe God or Aliens put us here) and thus if the Earth wants us gone, we will be.
And why not - Earth extinct species 4 times over and 4 times it stared again with a clean slate.
So now people somehow believe that this cycle will be over because humans are here. Right. I'm sure Earth will be very considerate.
The evidence of our possible extinctions are there, the evidence that we MAY survive are merely speculations based on some arrogant belief that we somehow control the earth, the nature and the universe.
Nothing happens contrary to nature, only contrary to what we know about nature. And we don't know shit.
Originally posted by lil bitchiness
As I already addressed, (but you chose to ignore it) Permian-Triassic extinction killed over 90% of life on earth - this was the only known mass extinction of insects not to mention that 250 mill later the effects are still felt today.
Thus, shit that lived in ridiculous conditions then, failed to survive that particular ice age.On top of that, creatures with complex food chains and complex systems (like us) will and have taken significantly longer to recover any such conditions.
The fact is that we are not independent of Earth (unless you believe God or Aliens put us here) and thus if the Earth wants us gone, we will be.
And why not - Earth extinct species 4 times over and 4 times it stared again with a clean slate.
So now people somehow believe that this cycle will be over because humans are here. Right. I'm sure Earth will be very considerate.The evidence of our possible extinctions are there, the evidence that we MAY survive are merely speculations based on some arrogant belief that we somehow control the earth, the nature and the universe.
Nothing happens contrary to nature, only contrary to what we know about nature. And we don't know shit.
Because as we all know humans are exactly like every other species in the world. We certainly don't have any sorts of technology that allow us to effectively adapt within just a few decades (if it needs to be developed) or in just a couple seconds (once we actually have it).
You're seriously overestimating the capacity and desire(wtf?) of the Earth to kill off humanity. The major shifts that caused mass extinction in the past took place on a time scale of hundreds to thousands of years, this isn't The Day After Tomorrow it's reality.
The most realistic threat to us is being suddenly wiped out by a gamma-ray burst. That or something deliberate like war with either ourselves or hostile aliens.
Originally posted by Symmetric Chaos
Because as we all know humans are exactly like every other species in the world. We certainly don't have any sorts of technology that allow us to effectively adapt within just a few decades (if it needs to be developed) or in just a couple seconds (once we actually have it).You're seriously overestimating the capacity and desire(wtf?) of the Earth to kill off humanity. The major shifts that caused mass extinction in the past took place on a time scale of hundreds to thousands of years, this isn't The Day After Tomorrow it's reality.
The most realistic threat to us is being suddenly wiped out by a gamma-ray burst. That or something deliberate like war with either ourselves or hostile aliens.
Great, there has been already 250 million years from major extinction event. It's almost time for another one. Or you do believe that this natural cycle which seems to happen periodically on earth just stopped cos we evolved.
I do love your ''we are going to move if catastrophic volcanic activity occurs'' suggestion the best.
Never mind that such will not only devstate anything in its path, spew poisonous gases, it may also cause earthquakes which if are strong enough with epicentre near shore would cause tsunamis, and which (earthquakes, not tsunamis) could again trigger volcanic activity...in which case I'm guessing we'll travel to the moon till this thing blows over (lulz, a pun).
Just look how well Katrina was handeled - how well people got evacuated with state of the art technology telling us the scale and danger of the hurricane which will come. Success. I'm sure it will work so much better on a world scale - especially in poor countries prone to being killed by natural disasters.
Originally posted by lil bitchiness
Great, there has been already 250 million years from major extinction event. It's almost time for another one. Or you do believe that this natural cycle which seems to happen periodically on earth just stopped cos we evolved.
Our evolution is irrelevant. What matters is the existence of technology. Even simple things like winter jackets make us infinitely more adaptable than any other organism.
You seem to be pressing the idea that one day we're going to wake up and find an ice age outside (actually that happens were I live, it's called "winter" and we just sorta deal) or a volcano in the backyard (which happened to a guy, he sold his farm to the state and moved).
The only things that can wipe us out as an entire species any more are artificial. Sure, Yellowstone could erupt and wipe out the US but the rest of humanity would simply be troubled by it not destroyed.
Or we could look at your number up there. "250 millions years from major extinction event" that's a long time to wait, another million years would be nothing, another thousand would be inconsequential. Humans aren't immune to being wiped out, I gave the example of a gamma ray burst, but the Earth works on such long time tables that the only things it can wipe out are the ones that need to evolve to survive.
We no longer do that, we haven't bothered in a long time. People that live in cold climates don't have great-great-great-great-grandchildren with thicker pelts they buy different clothes today. When we meet a predator we don't have great-great-great-great-grandchildren that taste bad to it we jam a spear in it's brain and cook it for dinner. When we get sick we don't produce great-great-great-great-grandchildren who are immune we go purchase anti-biotics.
In the hundreds of years the Earth would spend trying to kill us those sorts of instantaneous adaptations will keep forcing it to change its genocidal plans. Unfortunately the Earth isn't actually sentient and trying to murder us, so it won't change its plans.
Originally posted by lil bitchiness
I do love your ''we are going to move if catastrophic volcanic activity occurs'' suggestion the best.Never mind that such will not only devstate anything in its path, spew poisonous gases
Good for you I didn't mention that we have gas masks.
OH WAIT I DID! omg
Originally posted by lil bitchiness
it may also cause earthquakes which if are strong enough with epicentre near shore would cause tsunamis, and which (earthquakes, not tsunamis) could again trigger volcanic activity...in which case I'm guessing we'll travel to the moon till this thing blows over (lulz, a pun).
Only a tiny fraction of humanity lives on shorelines vulnerable to tsunamis. In fact we live all over the place. The Great Earth Mother will have to formulate a plan that renders mainland, shoreline, ocean, submarine and subterranian environments impossible to live in if it wants to wipe out our entire species.
Originally posted by lil bitchiness
Just look how well Katrina was handeled - how well people got evacuated with state of the art technology telling us the scale and danger of the hurricane which will come. Success. I'm sure it will work so much better on a world scale - especially in poor countries prone to being killed by natural disasters.
I wasn't aware that Katrina took decades to destroy New Orleans, in fact I recall it taking less than a week.
Originally posted by Symmetric Chaos
Our evolution is irrelevant. What matters is the existence of technology. Even simple things like winter jackets make us infinitely more adaptable than any other organism.You seem to be pressing the idea that one day we're going to wake up and find an ice age outside (actually that happens were I live, it's called "winter" and we just sorta deal) or a volcano in the backyard (which happened to a guy, he sold his farm to the state and moved).
The only things that can wipe us out as an entire species any more are artificial. Sure, Yellowstone could erupt and wipe out the US but the rest of humanity would simply be troubled by it not destroyed.
Or we could look at your number up there. "250 millions years from major extinction event" that's a long time to wait, another million years would be nothing, another thousand would be inconsequential. Humans aren't immune to being wiped out, I gave the example of a gamma ray burst, but the Earth works on such long time tables that the only things it can wipe out are the ones that need to evolve to survive.
We no longer do that, we haven't bothered in a long time. People that live in cold climates don't have great-great-great-great-grandchildren with thicker pelts they buy different clothes today. When we meet a predator we don't have great-great-great-great-grandchildren that taste bad to it we jam a spear in it's brain and cook it for dinner. When we get sick we don't produce great-great-great-great-grandchildren who are immune we go purchase anti-biotics.
In the hundreds of years the Earth would spend trying to kill us those sorts of instantaneous adaptations will keep forcing it to change its genocidal plans. Unfortunately the Earth isn't actually sentient and trying to murder us, so it won't change its plans.
Good for you I didn't mention that we have gas masks.
OH WAIT I DID! omg
Only a tiny fraction of humanity lives on shorelines vulnerable to tsunamis. In fact we live all over the place. The Great Earth Mother will have to formulate a plan that renders mainland, shoreline, ocean, submarine and subterranian environments impossible to live in if it wants to wipe out our entire species.
I wasn't aware that Katrina took decades to destroy New Orleans, in fact I recall it taking less than a week.
Wait, you're actually telling me you're going to wear masks at the times of overactive volcanic activity which will not only spew poisonous gasses, it will release carbon dioxide or sulphur dioxide into the atmosphere which will cause global warming (carbon dioxide) or an ice age (sulphur dioxide).
The very deffinition of EXTINCTION EVENT is a sharp decrease of spiecies in very short period of time. Then, the exact point of EXTINCTION would be when the last of the spiecies dies.
But I get it now. You're actually confused about the extinctions, ice ages and all around terminology.
That makes sense now.
Originally posted by lil bitchiness
Great, there has been already 250 million years from major extinction event. It's almost time for another one. Or you do believe that this natural cycle which seems to happen periodically on earth just stopped cos we evolved.
I guess you weren't aware that we are in the most aggressive extinction event, right now...
And, depending on how you classify "mass extinction (ELE is better...cause it's shorter)" we could be anywhere from 20+ to 5 prior extinction events: not 4.
Also, the gaps in ELEs seem to be getting farther apart.
Also, is it REALLY that hard to imagine humans using masks and breathing apparatuses?
I mean, come on, lots and lots and lots of humans would survive if the atmosphere chemistry changed so much as to make it unbreathable. Is it really hard to imagine homes, buildings, cars, etc. having to be made air-tight?
Worst case scenario: it changes so fast that very few humans have time to react...and then those crazy loons that have nuclear bunkers 60-100 feet underground with a year supply of food will be our "new" Adams and Eves. On top of that, there are several military facilities much farther undergound that are adapted to run the military from nuclear-safe conditions. Air-tight, mind you. Though, information on these places is minimal, it's hardly a stretch to assume the top 25 nations also don't have similar things.
And, yes, we have all the technology, now (we have had it for decades, actually), to make colonies on the moon. We just don't have the urgency, need, or want to live on the moon.
It's highly likely that we will develop (actual tools, not ideas, like we have now, but actual physical tools) the means to mitigate a large asteroid impact, long before we reach a full fledged class 1 level. In fact, some "tools" already exist, but I'm not sure how effective they would be. That would kind of put us ahead of some abitrary curve. lol
Also, we have successfully printed "cells" with those biological 3D printers. We are working on printing organs....which is just awesome.
We are also growing meat in petri dishes.
Both of those items, coupled with gene therapy, are going to make it almost impossible for the humans to become extinct with any of the previous factors that caused the ELE's.
Here's all the items that caused the ELEs:
1. Atmosphere change: Check. That's probably one of the easiest things to adapt to, as humans.
2. Global Warming: ha. As if warming up the earth and increasing the ability of the Earth to sustain life is something we need to worry about.
3. Global Cooling. ha. Our species matured in an ice-age.
4. Volcanic activity: see numbers 1 and 2.
5. K-T event: lulz. That would probably do the most damage, short term, but see #1 and #3. Hardly something we couldn't adapt to. Sure, there'd probably be hundreds of millions..and maybe over a billion, that lost their lives. However, even the newly proposed 300+ mile asteroid is not enough.
I considered anoxia, but that seems almost completely unapplicable.
Originally posted by lil bitchiness
Wait, you're actually telling me you're going to wear masks at the times of overactive volcanic activity which will not only spew poisonous gasses, it will release carbon dioxide or sulphur dioxide into the atmosphere which will cause global warming (carbon dioxide) or an ice age (sulphur dioxide).The very deffinition of EXTINCTION EVENT is a sharp decrease of spiecies in very short period of time. Then, the exact point of EXTINCTION would be when the last of the spiecies dies.
But I get it now. You're actually confused about the extinctions, ice ages and all around terminology.
That makes sense now.
wow, youre really trying your best to ignore logic arent you? 😬 also not funny ad hominem is not funny.