The Doomsday Book : Scenarios for the End of the World

This entertaining yet serious book examines the probability of apocalyptic scenarios the world could face in the future. Exploring all types of disasters, including natural crises like flooding, famine, asteroids, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions, as well as man-made disasters such as nuclear war, and biological and chemical terrorism, this guide thoroughly evaluates and rates the likelihood of each possible event. A history of previous global catastrophes—the extinction of dinosaurs, the droughts faced by the Mayans, and the poisoning of the Roman Empire—is also included. Concluding chapters investigate ways in which mankind can avoid earth's total destruction. Contents......Page 7 Introduction......Page 9 1. The Frankenstein Effect......Page 15 The threat from nanotechnology......Page 17 Pandemic......Page 23 Superbugs......Page 31 Rogue AI......Page 35 Physics experiment gone wrong......Page 39 Conclusion: Frankenstein’s monster unmasked......Page 43 2. Third World War......Page 45 Apocalypse now?......Page 47 Terror unlimited......Page 54 Extremism and fundamentalism......Page 59 Mass migrations......Page 63 Conclusion: Peace for our time......Page 67 3. Ecocide......Page 69 Poisoning the planet......Page 72 The hydroxyl holocaust......Page 87 Toxic time bomb......Page 90 The parched Earth......Page 98 The barren land......Page 106 The coming famine......Page 113 The starving ocean......Page 122 Acid seas......Page 128 Death of the wild......Page 132 The aspiration bomb......Page 142 Conclusion: Overshoot and ecocide......Page 145 4. Climate Change......Page 149 Global warming......Page 151 Waking the giants......Page 179 A new Ice Age......Page 185 Conclusion: Prepare for the worst......Page 190 5. Cataclysm......Page 191 Comet and asteroid impacts......Page 193 Super-volcano......Page 205 Mega-tsunami......Page 211 Reversal of the Poles......Page 217 Cosmological catastrophes......Page 221 Runaway stars and wandering black holes......Page 226 Conclusion: The end of the world is nigh?......Page 227 Conclusion......Page 229 Internet articles......Page 239 Print articles......Page 243 Books......Page 244 Index......Page 245 About the Author......Page 255 Whether it's a tsunami or an asteroid, a terrorist attack or a nuclear war, the end of the world is never far away. But just what are the chances of civilisation being destroyed, and which method of meltdown is most likely? "The Doomsday Book" looks at all the burgeoning threats to civilisation, explaining the story and the science behind each one, and providing a clear-headed assessment of how serious they are and what can and is likely to be done about them. Covering ecological crises such as water shortages and habitat destruction, the dangers of nanotechnology and superplague, and the cataclysmic effects of a new ice age or being lost in a black hole, Joel Levy's book is scarily engrossing. Examining the fate of ancient civilsations and explaining the lessons they can teach us, "The Doomsday Book" explores the likelihood of our survival when disaster hits