TELEVISION
About
Who still believes in the end of the world? These days, apocalypse announcers are no longer taken seriously. Yet, we have good reason to worry. How will we survive in a world that is overpopulated, overexploited and out of kilter because of human activities? How would we handle a cataclysm such as the ones that wiped out millions of species in the past?
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Episodes
1. A Few More Degrees
55m
The Earth is heating up and this climate change will have cataclysmic consequences for humanity - namely the desertification of agricultural lands and submersion of some of the planet's most populated zones. This episode explores the best scientific solutions to rescue the climate and humanity, including carbon capture, artificial trees, production of Earth-cooling clouds, artificial volcanoes, mirrors in space, and giant dikes to hold back rising water.
2. Energy At The Earth Of The Matter
55m
More than ever, humanity is dependent on fossil fuels, with world consumption of petroleum, natural gas, and coal rising a little every year. Inevitably, reserves are going to give out, and humanity isn't ready. But scientists are already working to find substitutes, such as power plants in space and on the ground, thermal energy from oceans, generators on giant kites, fuel from algae, fusion energy, underwater windmills, and wave generators.
3. To The Last Drop
55m
Can our planet provide water to an unlimited number of human beings? Signs of resource depletion are already numerous. Potable water is becoming increasingly scarce. The biggest culprit? Agriculture, which has to feed the seven billion people that inhabit the planet.
4. How To Feed The World?
55m
The world's population has surpassed 7 billion today and will reach nine-billion individuals by 2050. But can the planet supply food for an unlimited number of people? With signs that resources and natural spaces are running low, scientists are working on solutions to avoid human catastrophes; including hard core solutions such as genetic modifications - super Rice, Enviropig, fish of the future – and natural solutions including high protein insects, organic farming, vertical farms and a return to traditional values to ensure that everybody has enough to eat for years, decades and centuries to come.
5. The Unlikelihood Of Life
55m
Life on earth depends on a frightening contest of circumstances. It is so accidental that scientists wonder how it could have come about. Before the onset of the human era, thousands of other species had reigned on Earth. But the planet's history abounds with major cataclysms: super volcanoes, asteroid impacts, cosmic explosions, glaciations... The living world has often had to start all over from scratch, and extinct species made way for Earth's new masters. Humankind, as civilized and technically advanced as it may be, is at the mercy of the same phenomena.
6. Until The End Of Progress
55m
Human development is founded on scientific and technical progress: it is what drew humans out of their animal condition, and made them the uncontested masters of the planet. But is this race towards ever more science and technology entirely to the advantage of humans? In this episode, we will look at the potential downside of progress, and see whether its poses a threat to humanity. We will project into the future to picture how emerging technologies – artificial intelligence, genetic engineering, nanotechnologies – are revolutionizing our world, for better and for worse.
Extended Details
- SeriesAvoiding Apocalypse
- Closed CaptionsEnglish