Hacker Newsnew | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submitlogin

While true, it is also not as direct of a threat. CO2 is affecting us now, whereas asteroids, etc., are (thankfully) only possibilities. Serious ones, to be certain, but not immediately threatening.

CO2 is a direct and immediate threat.



Humans as a species will survive CO2, though, whereas asteroids conceivably can go from "not immediately threatening" to "Earth will be destroyed in a few years" without warning.


> not immediately threatening" to "Earth will be destroyed in a few years" without warning.

Unless the lead time is 50-100 years, years might as well be tomorrow, it's going to kill us all either way. Even that might be stretching it.

> Humans as a species will survive CO2

Maybe, personally I believe humans will cause their own extinction. I'm just not sure yet if we're going to take all life with us or not. Dealing with CO2 is a toss up between making the planet uninhabitable or completely inhospitable to life.


What study has indicated CO2 might make the planet completely inhospitable to life?


"... few days"


I went with years there to be safe as I'm uncertain about what the detection levels are like for planet-killer sized asteroids. I know we discover house-sized ones passing between us and the Moon after they whiz by.


No detection. Who's looking? Many are found by amateurs, as you say, after they whiz by.


CO2 is a very real threat and we should be doing more about it. That said, the threat is neither direct nor immediate.




Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: