99% Invisible Oops, Our Bad
Mar 23, 2021
Elizabeth Kolbert, author of "Under a White Sky," explores the ripple effects of human attempts to control nature. She discusses alarming interventions like the introduction of invasive species, such as poisonous frogs in Australia, and the complexities of geoengineering solutions for climate change. Kolbert delves into the ethical dilemmas surrounding genetic editing in ecology and the challenges of adapting urban areas like New Orleans to rising sea levels. The conversation is a thought-provoking examination of how our good intentions often lead to unforeseen consequences.
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Chicago River Reversal
- Chicago reversed its river flow to send sewage into the Mississippi.
- This solved drinking water issues but created unintended consequences.
Invasive Species
- Reversing Chicago's river linked the Great Lakes and Mississippi systems.
- This allowed invasive species, like Asian carp, to migrate between them.
Asian Carp Threat
- Asian carp, an invasive species, could ruin the Great Lakes ecosystem.
- They consume endangered mollusks and pose a physical threat to humans.
