logo
episode-header-image
Oct 2020
21m 29s

CLASSIC: Could a solar flare destroy civ...

iHeartPodcasts
About this episode

What would you do if you woke up one day and found yourself in a world without electricity, cellphones or the internet? It sounds like the plot of a science fiction film, but if a powerful enough solar flare hits Earth's magnetosphere this could become a frightening reality. Join Matt and Ben as they explore the likelihood of a solar apocalypse in today's Classic episode.

Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Up next
Today
CLASSIC: The Hidden History of Assassins, Chapter Two: The Modern Day
Almost a thousand years after the reign of the original Order of Assassins, you might think assassination tactics would be universally illegal -- however, that's not the case. Assassination is a valuable tool for both corporations and nations alike. It's also a big business, a we ... Show More
53m 23s
Yesterday
CLASSIC: The Hidden History of Assassins, Chapter One: An Origin Story
What's the difference between an assassination and a garden-variety murder? Where does the term 'assassin' actually come from, and how did an obscure sect founded almost one thousand years ago fundamentally change the course of history as we know it? Tune in for the answers to th ... Show More
1 h
Feb 6
The Legacy Program, Chapter Two: How Aliens (Could) Work
Could the United States really have a multi-generational, 'above-top-secret' operation to retrieve and reverse-engineer extraterrestrial technology? In the second chapter of this special two-part series, Ben, Matt and Noel dive deeper in the allegations surrounding "The Legacy Pr ... Show More
58m 31s
Recommended Episodes
May 2012
What is the future of Earth?
<p>What will the Earth be like in 5,000 or 50,000 years? In this far-sighted episode, Josh and Chuck explore how Earth may change over time. Listen in to learn more about humanity's odds of survival -- and how technology just might save us.</p><p> </p> Learn more about your ad-ch ... Show More
33m 32s
May 2011
Can the sun kill you?
<p>Could the sun, typically known for providing light and warmth, kill us? The Apollo 17 mission almost resulted in tragedy due to a mega-flare -- and astronauts aren't the only ones at risk. Join Josh and Chuck to learn more about the sun.</p><p> </p> Learn more about your ad-ch ... Show More
32m 52s
Apr 2022
Our Mysterious Planet: Earth’s Best Kept Secrets
Can plants read our minds? What would happen if our magnetic poles… flipped? Today we’re going deeper into Earth’s mysteries, from the unexpected discoveries beneath our surface, to the “Wood Wide Web,” to what’s at stake when isolated indigenous groups lose their homes. Learn mo ... Show More
47m 23s
Aug 2021
From the Vault: Astronomical Suffering and the Terran Diaspora
For many futurists, the long term survival of humanity depends on its ability to become a true interplanetary and even interstellar species. But what is the potential moral cost of such a great technological and cultural leap forward? In this episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, R ... Show More
1h 5m
Oct 2021
Selects: Will We Find Evidence of Aliens by Their Engineering Projects?
<p>In 1960 physicist Freeman Dyson suggested that in the hunt for alien life, we should search for evidence of massive engineering projects that encapsulate stars with solar arrays to harness their energy. Could we humans ever make one ourselves? Find out in this classic episode. ... Show More
45m 2s
Nov 2021
Can Tech Save the Literal World? (with Jamie Margolin)
Baratunde connects with Gen-Z author and climate activist Jamie Margolin, to see how this next generation is using tech to save the planet. He was surprised more than once by this 19-year-old’s perspective. She is the founder of This Is Zero Hour, an intersectional movement of yo ... Show More
39m 44s
Nov 2017
When will the Earth become uninhabitable?
<p>Earth is our home, but how much longer can it remain so? In this episode of the Stuff to Blow Your Mind podcast, Robert and Christian explore the many threats to terrestrial habitability, from the cosmically distant to the frighteningly close at hand.</p><p> </p> Learn more ab ... Show More
1h 2m
Oct 2020
A Radical Approach to Climate Change
Could altering the Earth’s atmosphere to reflect back some of the sun’s rays be a solution to climate change? It would likely decrease global temperatures, but it might lead to climate wars. Humanity might become “addicted” to it for survival. And ultimately, would this technolog ... Show More
58m 5s
Jul 2021
Selects: How Mars Works
<p>Sure today Mars would kill you with its thin, toxic atmosphere and cold desert temperature swings of 100 degrees,but early on it and Earth were practically twins. Find out how the two planets diverged and if there might be life on the Red Planet, in this classic episode.</p><p ... Show More
52m 1s
Feb 2024
When The Sun Erupts
We are at the height of the Sun's activity in its eleven year cycle, known to astronomers as the solar maximum. This means that over the next several months there's going to be a lot of solar activity. It's got us thinking back to 1859. That's when astronomer Richard Carrington w ... Show More
12m 15s
Listen to millions of songs and podcasts on Anghami