Surprisingly good fun. Editor's Pick.
Megacatastrophes!
Nine Strange Ways the World Could End
David Darling Dirk Schulze-MakuchWhich will get us first? The supervolcano in Yellowstone National Park? An asteroid hurtling through outer space? Black holes from CERN gobbling up the solar system? An army of deranged nanobots? Or – who knows – alien invasion?
Armed with lavish illustrations and their one-of-a-kind “Catastrophometer”, Dr David Darling and Dr Dirk Schulze-Makuch introduce the disasters you never saw coming, unpicking the science that makes them genuine possibilities, and providing everything from survival tips to danger ratings. So sit back, face the inevitable, and discover the delights of the nine oddest ways the world could end.
Reviews
The Bookseller
"A mix of good old-fashioned silliness and some fine science writing. Next time someone tells you, "Cheer up, it might never happen," throw this book at them."
BBC Focus
"Accessible and entertaining… Brings often complex and abstract threats frighteningly to life."
Financial Times
"Curiously pleasurable… this will help you get your everday problems into perspective."
The Independent
"Impressive… Reminds us that the air of reassuring omnipotence that our leaders like to project is mere illusion."
The Wall Street Journal
"A hearty dose of knowledge seasoned with humor… Clear and informative, this book is recommended for all readers of popular science."
Library Journal
David Darling
David Darling is a science writer, astronomer and tutor. He is the author of nearly fifty books, including the bestselling Equations of Eternity. He lives in Dundee, Scotland.
Together with Agnijo Banerjee, he is the co-author of the Weird Maths trilogy, and The Biggest Number in the World.
Author page
More books by David Darling
Dirk Schulze-Makuch
Dr Dirk Schulze-Makuch is currently an Associate Professor in Astrobiology at Washington State University. His research has been widely published in media ranging from academic journals to The New Scientist.
Author page
