Quote :

"Massive natural disasters have shaped the planet on which we live for millions of years, and the only thing we know for sure is that the future holds more. Earthquakes have triggered massive tsunamis and released methane gas that killed most of the life in the ocean. Asteroids have laid waste to nearly all the life on earth. Volcanoes have blocked the sun's rays for months. How would today's world hold up to such fury? Find out in the brand new series MEGA DISASTERS, airing Tuesdays at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT, starting May 9th on THE HISTORY CHANNEL. As the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina and the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami have dramatically demonstrated, we are all vulnerable to unexpected disasters, both natural and man-made. Combining science and history, MEGA DISASTERS visits the sites of previous disasters, then recreates them in modern times and locations, using state-of-the-art computer animation. Whether it's the city of Memphis crashing into the Mississippi River during an earthquake or a mile-wide asteroid destroying Los Angeles, each week is a hair-raising look at just how vulnerable our complex society really is to the power of Mother Nature."

http://www.history.com/minisites/megadisasters

If you haven't seen this series, I recommend it. I found the "Alien Infection" and "Methane Explosion" episodes to be particularly interesting:

Quote :

"Alien Infection Could an alien infection cause an epidemic on earth? Some experts believe that spacecraft returning from Mars could bring back a harmful sample or comet dust falling into our atmosphere could cause pandemics. One astronomer believes that the Influenza of 1918, which killed between 50-100 million people, was one such outbreak and that another 'infection' could decimate the world's population. Astrobiologists are now poised to bring Mars samples back to earth to examine them in a Bio 4 level safety lab. In a hypothetical future disaster scenario, track how comet dust would seed the earth with a virulent virus. Quarantine measures don't work and panic ensues."

Quote :

"Methane Explosion Methane gas precipitates out of the Earth's crust but is easily diluted in the air and in the oceans. Yet, according to one scientist, certain oceanic conditions could trap the gas in regions with low water circulation and build up extreme pressure. Once these areas are disturbed, the gas would blow out of the ocean in powerful jets. If they ignited before diluting, the explosion could cause widespread devastation. The scientist also posits that a similar event caused the Permian extinction."

4/28/2008 3:25:03 AM

This just proves how tired I am.

[Edited on April 28, 2008 at 4:03 AM. Reason : Now that I know this is Entertainment.]

4/28/2008 3:57:40 AM

^ Well, if I were you, I wouldn't get off these boards and, you know, sleep or anything.

4/28/2008 4:19:21 AM

no time to sleep, gramps

it's finals week

[Edited on April 28, 2008 at 8:13 AM. Reason : lol that you thought I was just staying on TWW for kicks]

4/28/2008 8:13:21 AM

Quote :

"Yet, according to one scientist, certain oceanic conditions could trap..."

4/28/2008 8:20:20 AM

you have time to fuck around on TWW but not to sleep?

4/28/2008 8:41:36 PM

sure

while I'm staying up writing a paper anyway

4/28/2008 8:59:55 PM

Quote :

"no time to sleep, gramps it's finals week"

StillFuchsia

Stay the fuck out of this thread, infant.

Quote :

"you have time to fuck around on TWW but not to sleep? "

Exactly.

4/29/2008 4:44:22 AM

Nobody else likes it though

4/29/2008 4:45:32 AM

i personally think the alien invasion thing is ridiculous to believe in. our Earth is dying...why would they want to come here? hah.

4/29/2008 8:20:01 AM

^ Obviously, you didn't bother to read the goddamned post. It's "Alien Infection," for fuck's sake:

Quote :

"Could an alien infection cause an epidemic on earth? Some experts believe that spacecraft returning from Mars could bring back a harmful sample or comet dust falling into our atmosphere could cause pandemics. One astronomer believes that the Influenza of 1918, which killed between 50-100 million people, was one such outbreak and that another 'infection' could decimate the world's population [emphasis added]. Astrobiologists are now poised to bring Mars samples back to earth to examine them in a Bio 4 level safety lab. In a hypothetical future disaster scenario, track how comet dust would seed the earth with a virulent virus. Quarantine measures don't work and panic ensues."

Aren't you a reporter or some shit?

4/29/2008 8:51:18 AM

hahahaha

4/29/2008 9:02:35 AM

^^I saw that one. It was interesting how the influenza popped up all around the world at almost the same time in an era where fast travel did not exist for the most part making the world wide spread of it interesting.

4/29/2008 5:02:28 PM

^ A decent response--finally! Thank you! Yes, that's exactly what the researcher's position was.

I mean, how can nearly simultaneous outbreaks during that period be explained? It's certainly mysterious whatever the cause--and the comet theory seems plausible.

Did you catch the part about how the birds got hit first? And that this may support the theory of the virus falling downward--so creatures in the sky would naturally be the first affected.

4/29/2008 5:34:15 PM

Quote :

"Aren't you a reporter or some shit?"

not a very bright one.

4/29/2008 5:40:01 PM

^ LOL

4/29/2008 5:44:10 PM

Quote :

"Did you catch the part about how the birds got hit first? And that this may support the theory of the virus falling downward--so creatures in the sky would naturally be the first affected. "

Yes, that was very interesting too. Would make total sense if it was true.

4/29/2008 5:59:52 PM

Quote :

"Did you catch the part about how the birds got hit first? And that this may support the theory of the virus falling downward--so creatures in the sky would naturally be the first affected."

With all the blithering on that the news has done in recent years about the (current) bird flu being spread to humans it seems like infected, migrating birds would be a more plausible cause.

Infected birds in 1918 could have easily carried the flu around the world. Especially if they teamed up to carry the flu on a bit of line held under the dorsal guiding feathers.

4/29/2008 6:34:34 PM

i dont believe the Alien Inflection one, how mexicans speak will not destroy our societ

4/29/2008 7:06:31 PM

^^You are missing the point. The birds became infected from diseased matter falling on the earth from space. Since birds fly high in the sky and open to the air, they are hit with it first and contract the diseases.

4/29/2008 8:03:10 PM

Quote :

"^^You are missing the point. The birds became infected from diseased matter falling on the earth from space. Since birds fly high in the sky and open to the air, they are hit with it first and contract the diseases. "

LOLOLOL.....

4/29/2008 8:20:43 PM

okay, now that i actually READ the thread...*should* aliens exist, i think disease could be brought back and an epidemic could start. kinda like how all the native americans got smallpox & stuff when europeans came over.

4/29/2008 8:32:14 PM

LOLOLOL

you
people

4/29/2008 8:48:31 PM

^^ Are you just fucking around or are you really this stupid? The "alien" part means alien to our planet.

The astronomer at issue is not saying the 1918 influenza or any potential infection from Mars came or will come from "little green men." He is saying that comet dust may have infected birds and humans with a virus. In addition, the "Alien Infection" episode expands that line of reasoning to include the risks associated with dust samples that will be brought back from Mars--the threat from these samples is obviously real since they will be examined in a "Bio 4 level safety lab."

Sweet Jesus. Don't post here anymore until you've thought this through, okay? You're giving me a fucking headache.

4/30/2008 6:00:48 AM

Quote :

"Hypercane 65 million years ago a massive asteroid crashed into Mexico's Yucatan peninsula. 75% of all life on earth vanished; but could a single asteroid have been the lone killer? Theories about what happened after the impact have been speculated on by the entire scientific community. Ranging from global warming to lethal worldwide firestorms, ideas have been put forth--but none have been proven. Then in 1995 a new theory claimed that a powerful mega storm known as a Hypercane caused the extinction. The Hypercane allegedly reaches 20 miles into the stratosphere and has wind speeds of up to 700 miles per hour. 3-D computer animations will reveal how this storm could have brought down nearly all life on the planet."

5/8/2008 5:35:31 AM

Im watching the one tonight about oil running out.

5/9/2008 6:36:13 PM

poor jessiejepp

5/9/2008 6:44:01 PM