Ten Ways the World Could End

CBC Radio, on December the 6th 2008, had a show looking into 10 possible ways the world could end.

Despite what you may think, the universe is not necessarily a friendly place. Sure, things here on Earth have been pretty stable over the past few millennia, allowing human civilization to gain a foothold. But that could change at any time.

1. Dr. Ray Jayawardhana explains what will happen when the expanding sun engulfs the earth and roasts the planet.

2. Dr. Vicki Kaspi explores the irradiating effects of a giant gamma ray burst.

3. Dr. Laura Ferrarese suggests that a rogue black hole may set its voracious appetite on Earth.

4. Dr. Peter Brown tells us what will happen if a giant asteroid plunges into Earth and pulverizes us.

5. Dr. Richard Peltier has a chilling scenario: the earth becomes a Popsicle planet and puts a freeze on photosynthesis.

6. Dr. Jo-Anne Brown explains what would happen if the galactic magnetic cloud were to collapse.

7. Dr. Sabine Stanley says the reversal of Earth's magnetic field may cause us some trouble.

8. Dr. Peter Sutherland explores what would happen if a nearby star were to go supernova.

9. Dr. Sarah Barnes talks about the possibility of a gigantic super-volcano blowing us to smithereens.

10. Robert J. Sawyer imagines an Earth under alien invasion.