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#72 - Toby Ord on the precipice and humanity's potential futures

80,000 Hours Podcast

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Cosmic Catastrophes and Global Risks

This chapter examines the existential threats posed by asteroids, comets, and supervolcanoes, highlighting their potential to cause global catastrophes. It discusses the advancements in detection methods, historical contexts, and the challenges in garnering public support for asteroid research compared to supervolcano risks. Additionally, the chapter explores lesser-known cosmic threats like supernovae and gamma-ray bursts, emphasizing their low likelihood of impacting Earth.

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