4 ms·

This reads like a scaremongering article.

by gelo 9y ago

knodi123 9y ago
Yep, just like the perennial (and nominally true) favorites "yellowstone will blow up and cripple western civilization" "a solar storm will blow up our nation's telecommunications infrastructure" "a super-flu will kill 30% of americans"
- fao_ 9y ago
  Eh? The latter two are nominally true. They could happen whenever, but so far haven't. The former two will definitely happen we just don't know the time scale. Yellowstone is on a timer that we don't have access to, and there are projects to drill down into it and deplete the heat, giving us electricity and solving the problem. With respect to the magnetic pole, this is something that is actually happening. Observe The magnetic pole in 2009: https://tools.wmflabs.org/geohack/geohack.php?pagename=North_Magnetic_Pole&params=84.9_N_131.0_W_&title=Magnetic+North+Pole+2009 https://tools.wmflabs.org/geohack/geohack.php?pagename=North... The current position of the magnetic pole: https://tools.wmflabs.org/geohack/geohack.php?pagename=North_Magnetic_Pole&params=86.5_N_172.6_W_&title=Magnetic+North+Pole+2017+est https://tools.wmflabs.org/geohack/geohack.php?pagename=North...
rrmm 9y ago
It's a plug for the book the essay is from. It barely introduces the subject. The book might be interesting and explore all of this stuff in depth, but excerpting a section like this is poor form. It's on a website so it shouldn't be a space issue. If your going to advertise your book like this, the reader should get something out of it.
wlll 9y ago
Is it not true? If it is true then it seems like a good idea to let people know, I myself didn't know about this phenomenon before and feel better informed. If it's not true, or the danger is being far overblown then speak up here and let us know.
- sebazzz 9y ago
  It is just as true as the fact that the sun will cut out and either be a black hole or red dwarf and earth will be engulfed in solar waves. However, just like the little problem with our sun, the next <many> generations will not have to deal with it. So it is the truth, but not the entire truth.
  - wlll 9y ago
    That's an awful lot more informative than "This reads like a scaremongering article.". Is there more information on the likely timescales?
gone35 9y ago
I think it's sometimes OK for potentially existential risks, don't you think?

This reads like a scaremongering article.

by gelo 9y ago

This reads like a scaremongering article.

Yep, just like the perennial (and nominally true) favorites "yellowstone will blow up and cripple western civilization" "a solar storm will blow up our nation's telecommunications infrastructure" "a super-flu will kill 30% of americans"

fao_ 9y ago
Eh? The latter two are nominally true. They could happen whenever, but so far haven't. The former two will definitely happen we just don't know the time scale. Yellowstone is on a timer that we don't have access to, and there are projects to drill down into it and deplete the heat, giving us electricity and solving the problem. With respect to the magnetic pole, this is something that is actually happening. Observe The magnetic pole in 2009: https://tools.wmflabs.org/geohack/geohack.php?pagename=North_Magnetic_Pole&params=84.9_N_131.0_W_&title=Magnetic+North+Pole+2009 https://tools.wmflabs.org/geohack/geohack.php?pagename=North... The current position of the magnetic pole: https://tools.wmflabs.org/geohack/geohack.php?pagename=North_Magnetic_Pole&params=86.5_N_172.6_W_&title=Magnetic+North+Pole+2017+est https://tools.wmflabs.org/geohack/geohack.php?pagename=North...

rrmm 9y ago

It's a plug for the book the essay is from. It barely introduces the subject. The book might be interesting and explore all of this stuff in depth, but excerpting a section like this is poor form. It's on a website so it shouldn't be a space issue. If your going to advertise your book like this, the reader should get something out of it.

wlll 9y ago

Is it not true? If it is true then it seems like a good idea to let people know, I myself didn't know about this phenomenon before and feel better informed. If it's not true, or the danger is being far overblown then speak up here and let us know.

sebazzz 9y ago
It is just as true as the fact that the sun will cut out and either be a black hole or red dwarf and earth will be engulfed in solar waves. However, just like the little problem with our sun, the next <many> generations will not have to deal with it. So it is the truth, but not the entire truth.
- wlll 9y ago
  That's an awful lot more informative than "This reads like a scaremongering article.". Is there more information on the likely timescales?

gone35 9y ago

I think it's sometimes OK for potentially existential risks, don't you think?