Overview

Which will get us first? The asteroid hurtling towards us from outer space? The Black Plague: Round Two? Swiss black holes gobbling up the solar system? Or - who knows - alien invasion? Armed with lavish illustrations and their one-of-a-kind ""Catastrophometer"", David Darling and Dirk Schulze-Makuch introduce all those disasters you never saw coming, unpicking the hardcore science that makes them all genuine possibilities, and providing everything from survival tips to danger ratings. So sit back, face the inevitable, and discover the awesome science behind the nine oddest ways the world could end.

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9781851689057

Table of Contents

Reviews

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? --Chad Orzel, author of How to Teach Quantum Physics to Your Dog Nicely written, thoroughly researched, highly recommended. Doomsday is already marked in the calendar. -- Alberto Fairen, Alberto Fairen Fascinating, if sometimes macabre ... A fabulous book that got better with every page - I couldn't put it down! -- Debra Fischer, Professor of Astronomy at Yale University 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. --Alfonso Davila, Senior Scientist at the SETI Institute and Principal Investigator at the Carl Sagan Institute Who needs vampires and zombies for excitement? Delightful ... an authoritative but good-humored look at an array of natural and technological disasters. -- Albert A. Harrison, Professor Emeritus Psychology, University of California, Davis, and author of Starstruck: Cosmic Visions in Science, Religion and Folklore 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. --BBC Focus Magazine Who needs vampires and zombies for excitement? Delightful ... an authoritative but good-humored look at an array of natural and technological disasters. --Albert A. Harrison, Professor Emeritus Psychology, University of California, Davis, and author of Starstruck: Cosmic Visions in Science, Religion and Folklore Fascinating, if sometimes macabre ... A fabulous book that got better with every page - I couldn't put it down! --Debra Fischer, Professor of Astronomy at Yale University Nicely written, thoroughly researched, highly recommended. Doomsday is already marked in the calendar. --Alberto Fairen, Alberto Fairen 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? --Chad Orzel, author of How to Teach Quantum Physics to Your Dog 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. --Alfonso Davila, Senior Scientist at the SETI Institute and Principal Investigator at the Carl Sagan Institute 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. --BBC Focus Magazine Who needs vampires and zombies for excitement? Delightful ... an authoritative but good-humored look at an array of natural and technological disasters. --Albert A. Harrison, Professor Emeritus Psychology, University of California, Davis, and author of Starstruck: Cosmic Visions in Science, Religion and Folklore Fascinating, if sometimes macabre ... A fabulous book that got better with every page - I couldn't put it down! --Debra Fischer, Professor of Astronomy at Yale University Nicely written, thoroughly researched, highly recommended. Doomsday is already marked in the calendar. --Alberto Fairen, Alberto Fairen 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? --Chad Orzel, author of How to Teach Quantum Physics to Your Dog 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. --Alfonso Davila, Senior Scientist at the SETI Institute and Principal Investigator at the Carl Sagan Institute 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. --BBC Focus Magazine

Who needs vampires and zombies for excitement? Delightful ... an authoritative but good-humored look at an array of natural and technological disasters. Albert A. Harrison, Professor Emeritus Psychology, University of California, Davis, and author of Starstruck: Cosmic Visions in Science, Religion and Folklore Fascinating, if sometimes macabre ... A fabulous book that got better with every page - I couldn't put it down! Debra Fischer, Professor of Astronomy at Yale University Nicely written, thoroughly researched, highly recommended. Doomsday is already marked in the calendar. Alberto Fairen, Alberto Fairen 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? Chad Orzel, author of How to Teach Quantum Physics to Your Dog 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. Alfonso Davila, Senior Scientist at the SETI Institute and Principal Investigator at the Carl Sagan Institute 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. BBC Focus Magazine

Fascinating, if sometimes macabre ... A fabulous book that got better with every page - I couldn't put it down! -- Debra Fischer, Professor of Astronomy at Yale University

Author Information

Dr David Darling is an astronomer, freelance science writer and creator of one of the most popular online encyclopaedias of space and astrobiology. He is the author of numerous works, including the bestselling Equations of Eternity. 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.

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