Nature Podcast Apocalypse then: how cataclysms shaped human societies
Sep 19, 2025
Lizzie Wade, a science journalist and author of "Apocalypse," discusses how cataclysmic events have shaped human societies throughout history. She defines the concept of apocalypse and highlights drivers like climate change. Fascinating case studies explore Doggerland and Peru’s El Niño, revealing how disasters prompted monumental shifts and community resilience. Lizzie also connects colonial transformations and modern echoes, reflecting on COVID's impact and humanity's adaptability in the face of chaos.
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Apocalypse Defined As Transformation
- An apocalypse is a rapid collective loss that fundamentally transforms a society's way of life and identity.
- Lizzie Wade emphasizes transformation as the defining feature, not just loss or doom.
Climate And Community Shape Responses
- Climate change repeatedly appears as a driver in many historical societal transformations, but it rarely acts alone.
- Wade highlights community as the decisive factor in how societies survive and adapt to disasters.
Life On Now-Submerged Doggerland
- Doggerland was once a large, inhabited landscape connecting Britain to continental Europe before sea levels rose.
- Wade uses Doggerland to show inhabitants adapted and thrived before eventual submergence, not that they were foolish to stay.
