Chapter
Threats to Humanity
29:28 - 37:14 (07:45)
The risk of a pandemic, bioengineering, and natural events like a super volcano are some of the greatest risks which can threaten humanity. Gamma ray bursts that come from a particular type of exploding star could destroy life on Earth, but paradoxically, they may also help save humanity someday.
Clips
Improving the technology for detecting objects from a great distance and continuing to monitor the asteroid belt can provide a warning for near-Earth objects potentially colliding with Earth.
29:28 - 30:55 (01:27)
Summary
Improving the technology for detecting objects from a great distance and continuing to monitor the asteroid belt can provide a warning for near-Earth objects potentially colliding with Earth. Comets are much rarer and would give a warning a billion or two billion years prior to it potentially hitting Earth.
ChapterThreats to Humanity
Episode#137 – Alex Filippenko: Supernovae, Dark Energy, Aliens & the Expanding Universe
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
Exploding stars, such as gamma ray bursts, could threaten the safety of our planet, but they could also help us prepare for other natural disasters like solar flares and coronal mass ejections.
30:55 - 34:39 (03:43)
Summary
Exploding stars, such as gamma ray bursts, could threaten the safety of our planet, but they could also help us prepare for other natural disasters like solar flares and coronal mass ejections. However, human-induced threats such as pandemics or super volcanoes still pose a greater risk to humanity's survival.
ChapterThreats to Humanity
Episode#137 – Alex Filippenko: Supernovae, Dark Energy, Aliens & the Expanding Universe
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
Super volcanic eruptions have occurred in the past leading to the death of billions of humans, and with the existence of a super volcano under Yellowstone in the central US, it is uncertain whether there would be an adequate response to prevent the death of the majority of the population in the event of another super volcanic eruption.
34:39 - 37:14 (02:34)
Summary
Super volcanic eruptions have occurred in the past leading to the death of billions of humans, and with the existence of a super volcano under Yellowstone in the central US, it is uncertain whether there would be an adequate response to prevent the death of the majority of the population in the event of another super volcanic eruption.