The End Is Nye

I'm from the Mr. Wizard generation, so never watched Bill Nye the Science Guy program.

I was taught the history and science of previous natural disasters. My parents , both living in the plains during the dustbowl/depression days. Told their experience of that time period. Dad always planted a garden to help sustain our food supply.

Now I'm watching an update of history, plus positive answers to stop them.

Definitely recommend to everyone. Take away whatever. Just view with an open mind and a curiosity to stop natural disasters.

Prevention is always cheaper than catastrophe. At what point do we have to reach before we listen and act?

This documentation of hypothetical disasters is a must. Not just a "give it a try" for entertainment purposes.

It's a serious warning about underestimated threats. While Bill Nye presents these scenarios entertainingly, this does not diminish the seriousness of the dangers he explores.

Take just one realistic example: the "Global Blackout" caused by a super solar flare. Such solar flares happened countless times already. These are called Myake-Events and they occur more than once in a millennium. The big difference nowadays would be the destruction of semiconductors. The last Miyake Event happened in the 19th century and semiconductors hadn't been invented yet, therefore the damage to humanity was limited. It was a shock, but minor damage has been done. Nowadays, such an event would be a global disaster. It could throw the human race back into the Stone Age, causing a complete breakdown of all infrastructure and societal collapse with anarchy taking over. Calling the police would be impossible. In such a world, something as simple as a bottle of water could become a reason to kill.

It is a fact, that it will happen, the only open question is: WHEN? Once in a millennium on average. But the next time would be the most dangerous Miyake Event since mankind has put its fate in the hands of semiconductors. If this isn't concerning to you, I don't k ow what would.

Rebuilding our world to its current state could take centuries perhaps longer, as we have zero experience with such a strike against humanity.

Science can be entertaining. If we are forward thinking and not get stuck in the past we can thrive, become profitable, and help the world. Yes, invest in future science. Because denying facts only leads to being stuck in a narrow existence of unsustainable acts. For example combustion engines will be collector's items for you grandkids, the same way horse and buggy transportation was for your great grandparents. As science takes us back into space on vehicles and machines are needed on the moon and Mars, electric engines or alternative power sources are the only option. Without an atmosphere, a combustion engine will not work.

This show gave me ideas for future investments in myself and businesses.

Really entertaining and informative series presented in a clear, informative and engaging manner. Mr. Nye does an excellent job. Of course every user review section has the usual suspects who are typical right wing deniers. Ignore them and cross check the show's content with FACTS and EVIDENCE that support the content. The creators of this excellent show aren't making up the urgency of man made global warming. The other natural phenomena, which we may have no control over, are things to ponder indeed and, according to Nye, may be mitigating actions we can institute to survive. As Nye eloquently points out the conditions we, as the human occupants of this planet, can correct and modify are real and should be undertaken if we are to be responsible stewards of this planet...and have a planet for our descendants to flourish.

A lot of the disaster scenarios that you discuss involve earthquakes. Please note that the Richter Scale became obsolete in the 1970's. It gives unreliable results above a 6.0. The currently used scale is the Moment Magnitude Scale.

Even though the popular press likes to throw around the term "Richer Scale" concerning earthquakes, remember these people are generally uneducated in science and too lazy to check their facts. Quite frankly, old boy, I expected better from you and I'm not a Geophysics expert either.

Remember there are a lot of us "baby boomers" out there who studied a lot of really hard science in the 60's and 70's and mistakes like these stick out like a sore thumb and undercut your believability.

Dan B. S., Physics '75.