"Curiously pleasurable… this will help you get your everyday problems into perspective."
Megacatastrophes!
Nine Strange Ways the World Could End
Description
Acerbic dark humour meets hardcore science in this mind-boggling exploration of the nine worst ways the world could end
Discover the mind-boggling science of the coming apocalypse!
'Curiously pleasurable… this will help you get your everyday problems into perspective.' Independent
Which will get us first? The supervolcano in Yellowstone National Park? An asteroid hurtling through outer space? Black holes from CERN gobbling up the solar system? An army of deranged, super-intelligent AI? Or – who knows – alien invasion?
Armed with lavish illustrations and their one-of-a-kind 'Catastrophometer', Dr David Darling and Dr Dirk Schulze-Makuch introduce the disasters you never saw coming, unpicking the science that makes them genuine possibilities, and providing everything from survival tips to danger ratings. So sit back, face the inevitable, and discover the delights of the nine oddest ways the world could end.
Genres
ScienceCustoms & TraditionsSocial ScienceAll Other NonfictionPopular CultureNatural DisastersNatureDisasters & Disaster ReliefAstronomySpace ScienceSeismology & VolcanismEarth SciencesEndangered SpeciesEnvironmental Conservation & ProtectionEnvironmental ScienceSociologyEcologyHuman GeographyDevelopmentBusiness & EconomicsDeveloping & Emerging Countries
Pages224
Released2012
LanguageEnglish
PublisherOneworld Publications
ISBN9781780740270
SellerSimon & Schuster
About the author(s)
David Darling is a science writer, astronomer and music producer. He is the author of nearly fifty books, including the bestselling Equations of Eternity. He lives in Dundee, Scotland.
Together with Agnijo Banerjee, he is the co-author of the Weird Maths trilogy, and The Biggest Number in the World.
Dr Dirk Schulze-Makuch is currently an Associate Professor in Astrobiology at Washington State University. His research has been widely published in media ranging from academic journals to The New Scientist.
Reviews
"Fascinating, if sometimes macabre ... A fabulous book that got better with every page - I couldn't put it down!"
"Accessible and entertaining… Brings often complex and abstract threats frighteningly to life."
"A surprisingly cheerful look at the science of how humanity might meet a messy end, from incurable diseases to exploding stars. Who says reading about the end of the world needs to be grim?"
"Impressive… Reminds us that the air of reassuring omnipotence that our leaders like to project is mere illusion."
"Nicely written, thoroughly researched, highly recommended. Doomsday is already marked in the calendar."
"A mix of good old-fashioned silliness and some fine science writing. Next time someone tells you, "Cheer up, it might never happen," throw this book at them."
"The entertaining selection of end-of-the world scenarios is the perfect excuse to learn about science, from the atomic to the galactic and from the terrestrial to the extra-terrestrial. Specially recommended for those who think that the end of humankind cannot cheer you up."
"Surprisingly good fun. Editor's Pick."
"Splendid! Stimulating, entertaining, and scientifically plausible."
"A hearty dose of knowledge seasoned with humor… Clear and informative, this book is recommended for all readers of popular science."
