80,000 Hours Podcast Rebuilding after apocalypse: What 13 experts say about bouncing back
51 snips
Jul 15, 2025 Guest
Andy Weber
Guest
Annie Jacobsen
Guest
Mark Lynas
Guest
Toby Ord
Guest
Lewis Dartnell
Guest
Kevin Esvelt
Guest
Kelly & Zach Weinersmith
Guest
David Denkenberger
In this thought-provoking discussion, guests include Dave Denkenberger, who focuses on resilient food systems after catastrophes, and Zach Weinersmith, who talks about the practical needs of humanity in space. Kevin Esvelt warns of existential threats, while Lewis Dartnell describes how to rediscover essential knowledge post-collapse. Toby Ord and Mark Lynas delve into risks from climate change and potential civilizational collapse. Annie Jacobsen shares insights on catastrophic scenarios, including firestorms and nuclear threats, as Andy Weber highlights defense perspectives on nuclear winter.
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Rebooting Civilization With Knowledge
- Civilization collapse would require rebooting knowledge and skills differently than before.
- Preserving and sharing key knowledge like germ theory can speed recovery significantly.
Space Settlement Not Near-Term Solution
- Settling space won't protect humanity from Earthly threats soon.
- Mars colonization requires huge populations and technological advances far beyond current capabilities.
Non-Uniform Disaster Effects Matter
- Different disaster types vary in collapse and recovery likelihood.
- Non-uniform catastrophe effects mean some regions might remain habitable and maintain society.
