Search Results for: asteroid

Herd immunity to pandemics is a thing – actually, something of a human superpower. However, herd immunity to other hazards, including weather and climate extremes, is not. No human superpowers here! But perhaps we could emulate the fictional Marvel character … Continue reading →

To be human these days is to have a lot to worry about. News media play into this mindset. Joel Achenbach’s recent post, appearing in yesterday’s print edition of The Washington Post Magazine, provides a particularly thoughtful and comprehensive example. … Continue reading →

Given present trends and recent events, it’s time to revisit and update a few notions basic to the LOTRW blog over the years as well as the book by that title. Today’s focus is on natural hazards and disasters: Extremes … Continue reading →

Picking up from the previous LOTRW post: Okay, Bill, where does the covid-19-as-vaccine concept come in? Convince me. Start close. Covid-19 is proving deadly. But it’s a mere “cowpox” compared with other more serious disease threats that have concerned public health officials … Continue reading →

Megatherium – the giant sloth – failed to survive the Pleistocene. Can we do a better job navigating the Plastocene? The bar might seem low – but the stakes are high, and, fact is, only time will tell. Some of … Continue reading →

“Aslan is a lion- the Lion, the great Lion.” “Ooh” said Susan. “I’d thought he was a man. Is he-quite safe? I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion”…”Safe?” said Mr Beaver …”Who said anything about safe? ‘Course he … Continue reading →

Stephen Hawking has been asking a proper question: How much time do we (humans) have here on Earth? His answer is uncertain, and in fact has been a moving target, but can be summed up like this: not much! (and … Continue reading →

Some months ago, the folks at AGU were kind enough to invite me to write an opinion for Eos.org, reflecting on the social contract connecting scientists with the society we serve. The piece was posted Tuesday, having finally cleared a … Continue reading →

Science policy analysts usually distinguish between “science for policy” and “policy for science.” The former denotes a unique role of science in informing policy on all aspects of the national agenda – national security, foreign affairs, the economy, public health, … Continue reading →

George Leopold contributed this post: Among the eight members of NASA’s 2013 Astronaut Candidate Class announced this week is Christina M. Hammock, currently station chief at NOAA’s American Samoa Observatory. This year’s astronaut class (four women, four men) is dominated … Continue reading →