End of the World: 10 Disasters that could end it all at any given second.

[OneBlueSky]

via Metafilter . . .

http://www.botw.org/articles/endworld.html

1. Particle Accelerators

2. Rogue Black Holes

3. Gamma-Ray Burst

4. Omega Point

5. Bubble Nucleation

6. Divine Intervention

7. Solar Activity (Super-Flares and Decreased Activity)

8. Aliens Attack The Earth

9. Global War

10. Ecosystem Collapse

http://www.botw.org/articles/endworld.html

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

1. So Chimp is only at 6, 9 and 10.

70% ain't too bad.

[jgraz]

8. Are you sure Cheney doesn't count as #8?

[ProfessorGAC]

20. We Aliens Are NOT Claiming Him

Don't blame us for his actions. He's one of you humans.
The Professor

[Birthmark]

2. GRBs are the only one of those that I take seriously...

...at this point.

{EDIT: I also note that asteroid collision is strangely absent. A large asteroid could turn the trick with ease.}

[BlueIris]

19. Wait—global war and/or ecosystem collapse aren't realistic possibilities to you?

[Birthmark]

42. No, not realistic at all.

The premise is the "end of the world." I'll take that liberally (naturally! :) ) to mean the end of human beings as a species. I have no reason to believe that war can achieve that end --even nuclear war.

Ecosystem collapse won't just happen. There will be an underlying reason (global warming, for instance), so it is highly unlikely to be sudden. That means people can prepare. Maybe not a lot of people, but some. So it would take a double whammy of ecosystem collapse AND something that ruined any preparations that had been made.

So, no, neither of those look to be species-enders for humans, imo. That's not to say that they're good things, either, though. I just think that both can be overcome.

[HuffleClaw]

3. bubble nuclueation ???

looks pretty harmless to me!

[Birthmark]

5. Yeah?

Try that in a false vacuum, pal! PHREEEOW!

[Bluebear]

4. And for this I quit smoking.

:mad:

[zanne]

12. HAH! nt

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

6. Ah, but 8 won't result in destruction

Just a transformation--and who says they will attack? Maybe they will rescue us from Bush instead!

[TechBear_Seattle]

9. "I, for one, welcome our new insect overlords." n/t

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

14. No no---changlings

you know, like Odo from Deep Space Nine. Take on any shape.

[ProdigalJunkMail]

15. they're here already...

they're called 'politicians' and even moreso during election years...

sP

[BlueIris]

17. My first serious idea for a novel posited an alien "rescue attempt" of enviro-fried Earth.

Then I found out how many, many people had already published fiction with similar plots and gave up.

[C_U_L8R]

7. As if there weren't enough to worry about already :-)

but hey the Omega Point sounds kinda cool.
The karmic snake eats its tail and then 'poof' ?
Or is it 'gulp'?

[Kokonoe]

10. 11. asteroid, comet, or meteor collision

[ProdigalJunkMail]

11. Fun document on how to Destroy the Earth

if you have the time and are so inclined...even gives probabilities and when it could be achieved given technological gains...

http://qntm.org/?destroy

sP

[jgraz]

13. #1 is pretty much agreed to be impossible

We're constantly bombarded with cosmic rays at much higher energies than any accelerator could ever generate. If those collisions were likely to create a black hole, we'd be gone by now.

[Smith_3]

30. Yup. Additionally, the chances that the LXD models are true is slim.

IMO, they are just an idea that string theorists had to convert their work into something that applies to LHC energies.

[BlueIris]

16. The number 3 (Gamma ray burst) scenario is horrifying.

[ProdigalJunkMail]

18. odds are that this will NOT happen in anyone's lifetime

right now we see about an average of one per day...given the number of stars that are out there that means that the likelihood of one happening close enough to do much is VERY small...

sP

[ProfessorGAC]

22. Is There A Big Enough Star Close Enough?

GRB's require massive stars, don't they? Are they any stars that big in the local region to the earth. I thought most of the stars within a 1000 light year radius were all 0.8 - 1.4 solar masses. Any thoughts?
The Professor

[ProdigalJunkMail]

23. You need something pretty big...

and i don't think there is anything close enough to do much damage...so, for NOW I think we are safe on this one...special type of star too...

More info on Gama Bursts

http://imagine.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/science/know_l1/bursts.html

sP

OnEdit : Gamma Velorum is only 800ly distant and is a Wolf-Rayet star...might be a problem one day :-)

[ProfessorGAC]

24. Thanks

Didn't realize there was a gamma source that close. Thanks for checking on that. I'm recovering from pneumonia and am pretty lazy and worn out.
GAC

[ProdigalJunkMail]

25. i just knew that

ok...that's a lie...but it sounded good...

Get well!

sP

[jgraz]

32. Unknown. A binary neutron star would be almost impossible to detect.

We could have one within a few light years and never know it until it went off.

Also, Betelgeuse is only about 400 ly away. Depending on the axis of rotation, we could be in for quite a ride when that goes supernova.

[ProdigalJunkMail]

33. wouldn't astronomers be able to detect a

wobble in the star's orbit/position in the event of a binary neutron? I mean, there are only so many supermassive stars within 1000ly...I would think that a survey could be done...but hey, whatcha gonna do? If there is one and it goes...well, it is pretty much all over but the fireworks...

sP

[jgraz]

34. Two neutron stars orbiting each other are virtually undetectable

Until we find a way to reliable way to detect gravity waves, we just aren't gonna see these objects.

[ProdigalJunkMail]

35. gotcha...thought you were talking about a massive star

like Betelgeuse and a neutron orbiting it...either way...yer effed up when it goes...well, years later but you get the point :-)

sP

[ProdigalJunkMail]

40. interesting story...it looks like in some scenarios

we can find the pairs of neutron stars. I realize this will not work for all scenarios...but at least we can see a few...

http://www.skyandtelescope.com/news/3308446.html?page=1&c=y

sP

[Fire Walk With Me]

21. The current attack upon Congressional power is plenty enough in and of itself. Please read:

Our Constitution is under threat and the most basic principle of checks and balances is being undermined. Not since Watergate has a president so openly disregarded the will of Congress.

During hearings in the Judiciary Committee yesterday, I told Attorney General Michael Mukasey that I called for impeachment hearings because of the stonewalling and blatant abuses of the Bush Administration. He responded by stating that he will NOT enforce a contempt of Congress citation against Harriet Miers and White House Chief of Staff Josh Bolten for refusing to testify before Congress. The video is here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7M9sjRLCtQ

Alberto Gonzales may be long gone, but the Bush Administration continues its executive overreach with the new Attorney General.

We can debate the need for Impeachment hearings. We can argue its effects on the election or our agenda. But one thing is abundantly clear:

If Congress' right to require testimony is undermined, then our country's leaders - Democrat, Republican, or Independent - will be immune from accountability.

The power of the subpoena - to call officials before us - is one of the most fundamental safeguards in our system of government. To have it effectively discarded - by virtue of the President instructing Administration officials to ignore a congressional subpoenas and not even appear before Congress - is unprecedented. The idea that the Attorney General would willingly defend this position - despite Congress' constitutional right to call such witnesses, is outrageous.

Impeachment hearings could render this moot: The President, Vice President, and all officials under them would no longer invoke executive privilege. There would be no more smokescreens.

In one week, I will be delivering my letter calling for impeachment hearings to Chairman John Conyers. Already, 16 Members of Congress have joined my call, including 3 Judiciary Committee members. I am hopeful for more in the coming days, but it is important for you to reach out to your representative in Congress to express how you feel. You can view the current list of signers, here: http://www.wexlerforcongress.com/news.asp?ItemID=230

I do not know how Congress will react, but I do know this: I will pursue this course aggressively. I will not compromise away the constitutional role of Congress. Your support is invaluable. Please know that I am working everyday to ensure that the Bush Administration is held accountable.

Please continue to support this movement at www.wexlerwantshearings.com.

Yours truly,

Congressman Robert Wexler

(From an email this morning.)

[havocmom]

26. Do we get to vote?

:shrug: prolly not. Nuthin important gets done with the approval of the masses.

[hunter]

27. 11. God's cat walks across the keyboard and reboots our Universe.

.

[alfredo]

28. Gigli II

[ProdigalJunkMail]

29. i was sooo confused

i kept trying to look up Gigle II from your original message...but i must agree with you!

sP

[alfredo]

31. It took a bit to get DU to reload so I could fix it.

[dysfunctional press]

36. does #4- 'omega point' make any sense to anyone...?

or am i just too high?

[ProdigalJunkMail]

37. i don't think you are high enough

for that thing...someone will have to 'splain it to me sometime...

sP

[librechik]

38. the universe just gets to its logical end and runs out. Omega..

no big deal. We;ve all been building up to it all along.

Anyway, it's more of a philosophical concept than a physics theory. Perhaps you'd have to be able to conceive of it to experience it--so you're probably safe, Q--stay high!

[KG]

39. oh, great. more shit i can lose sleep worrying about!

:hi:

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

41. "There is no safety in the cosmos." - Alan Watts