Bibliograph

The doomsday book, the science behind humanity's greatest threats, Marshall Brain

Type

Label

The doomsday book, the science behind humanity's greatest threats, Marshall Brain

Language

eng

Bibliography note

Includes bibliographical references (pages 255-269) and index

Illustrations

illustrations

Index

index present

Literary Form

non fiction

Main title

The doomsday book

Nature of contents

bibliography

Oclc number

1153044884

Responsibility statement

Marshall Brain

Sub title

the science behind humanity's greatest threats

Summary

How might the world as we know it end? In this illustrated guide, How Stuff Works author Marshall Brain explores myriad doomsday scenarios and the science behind them. What if the unimaginable happens? A nuclear bomb detonates over a major city, for example, or a deadly virus infects millions around the world. There are other disasters we don't even have to imagine because they've already occurred, like violent hurricanes or cataclysmic tsunamis that have caused horrific loss of life and damage. In How Stuff Works, Marshall Brain explained how our world functions; in The Doomsday Book, he explains how everything finally ends--the decimation of nations and cities, of civilization, of humanity, of all life on Earth. Brain takes a deep dive into a wide range of doomsday narratives, including manmade events such as an electromagnetic pulse attack, a deadly pandemic, and nuclear warfare; devastating natural phenomena, such as an eruption from a super-volcano, the collapse of the Gulf Stream, or lethal solar flares; and science-fiction scenarios where robots take over or aliens invade. Each compelling chapter provides a detailed description of the situation, the science behind it, and ways to prevent or prepare for its occurrence. With fun graphics and stunning photographs at every turn, The Doomsday Book will be the last book you'll ever have to read about the last days on Earth

Table Of Contents

Part 1. Man-made disasters. Splitting the United States in half ; Drone strikes and swarms ; Nuclear bombs ; Antarctica collapse ; EMP attack ; Runaway global warming ; Pandemics and biological attacks ; Chemical attacks and accidents ; Grid attack ; The automation economy ; Opioid crisis -- Part II. Natural disasters. Asteroid strike ; Supervolcano eruption ; Earthquakes ; Supertsunamis ; Coronal mass ejections ; Mass extinction ; Rainforest collapse ; Hurricanes and typhoons ; Ocean acidification ; Gulf stream collapse -- Part III. Science fiction made real. Robot takeover ; Alien invasion ; Relativistic kill vehicle ; Gray goo -- Conclusion

Target audience

adult

Classification