The World as We Know It Is About to End, Say Some Really Frightened Scientists

Reuters
Alexander Abad-Santos 25,477 Views Jun 7, 2012

A new study by 22 biologists and ecologists has found that environmental changes on our planet are reaching a point of no return that leads to mass extinctions and harms human welfare. The situation, said one scientist, “scares the hell out of me.” That would be James H. Brown, one of the authors of alarming paper published by Nature, talking to New York Times Green blogger Justin Gillis. Brown is not one of your everyday cranks predicting raptures and the end of days. He is a macroecologist at the University of New Mexico. And as The Atlantic's James Fallows, who pointed out this terrifying study to us, writes, this could be the most important news of 2012. How soon do these scientists expect the world as we know it to end? Gillis writes, "within a few human generations, if not sooner." The most frightening thing is that this finding isn't about what will come if we do not act, but that our effects on the planet's environment -- global warming, population growth, and overall resource extraction -- means that we've already passed a "tipping point." This isn't a plea for change. These are things scientists have been warning us about for decades.

Here's a video from one of the scientists involved: 

Want to add to this story? Let us know in comments or send an email to the author at aabadsantos at theatlantic dot com. You can share ideas for stories on the Open Wire.

Topics: , ,
Related Articles   More by Alexander Abad-Santos

What It Looks Like When Al Roker Tells You He Soiled Himself at the White House

Meanwhile in China, 3,000 Decomposing Pigs Were Found in Shanghai's Drinking Water

Man Arrested for Smuggling Roasted Human Fetuses

 

Backpacks, Human Shields, Above and Beyond: The Oklahoma Teacher Heroes

Osama's Bin Laden's Death Photos Will Be Kept Secret for Your Own Good

Elsewhere on the Web

User Comments

Please type your comment and click Post. If you’re not already logged in you will be prompted to log in or register

  • The Atlantic Wire on Twitter
  • The Atlantic Wire RSS Feed
  • The Atlantic Wire iPhone App