Catastrophe!

Catastrophes are part of life, but many of the worst are the direct result of human error. Whether it’s poor planning, design flaws, or simply greed or hubris, we are often our own worst enemy. Join volcanologist Jess Phoenix as she explores the stories of natural disaster, failure, and calamity, and what we learn from our fascination with digging through the rubble.

Can of Worms 10/22/2020

Can of Worms How do we evaluate if something rises up to a catastrophe? In this mini catastrophe, co-host Carlos Phoenix and Emilie Fournier explore computer security and threats to our global infrastructure. They explore the virus/worm Stuxnet and how the United States used it in cyber espionage and attack against Iran's nuclear enrichment plant Natanz. This opened the door for the risk of weaponizing cyber attacks against global infrastructure. Will we convince you that this computer virus attack is a catastrophe? /episode/index/show/catastrophe/id/16512284

Raving Mad 10/01/2020

Raving Mad How do we evaluate if something rises up to a catastrophe? This mini catastrophe explores rabies and whether its impact to humans and our pets rises to a level of catastrophe. /episode/index/show/catastrophe/id/16237526

No Prospect of an End 01/15/2020

No Prospect of an End The second half of our season finale on climate change. It's the single greatest threat in our lifetime. It's the catastrophic global Dust Bowl of the 21st century and beyond. We answer listener questions and give some pointers about how to take action in your life. /episode/index/show/catastrophe/id/12756833

No Vestige of a Beginning 12/26/2019

No Vestige of a Beginning Climate change is the single greatest threat in our lifetime. It's the catastrophic global Dust Bowl of the 21st century and beyond. Cutting through the jargon and myths is essential if we want to stop this disaster-in-motion. /episode/index/show/catastrophe/id/12532586

Alpha & Omega 12/02/2019

Alpha & Omega In the late 1980s, oil and gas production were common in the North Sea, off the coast of Scotland. Rig workers were accustomed to long hours in harsh conditions, but nothing could have prepared the men working on Piper Alpha for the catastrophic series of events that took the lives of nearly three-quarters of the crew one July night. /episode/index/show/catastrophe/id/12254087

Do No Harm 11/15/2019

Do No Harm The Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment was a 40-year lesson in how not to conduct medical research on human subjects. Sadly, it wasn't the only episode where the United States and its government researchers neglected ethical obligations to participants in experiments. The Guatemala Experiments were a ghastly violation of patient rights, and serve as a stark reminder of why we need someone to watch the watchmen. /episode/index/show/catastrophe/id/12053096

De Havilland's Comet 10/20/2019

De Havilland's Comet Air travel has been a dream of humanity since our earliest ancestors gazed up to the heavens. From an earthbound species just over 100 years ago, to thousands of airliners cruising the skies daily, our journey to the sky has been complicated. /episode/index/show/catastrophe/id/11707148

Lions & Tigers & Bears 10/03/2019

Lions & Tigers & Bears Species have evolved, flourished, and died off for eons. It's only within the last few millennia that humans have been responsible for wiping entire species off the face of the planet. /episode/index/show/catastrophe/id/11491724

Guns, God, and the United States Government 09/17/2019

Guns, God, and the United States Government In 1993, a fringe religious group with apocalyptic beliefs and a charismatic leader who abused children and called himself the Son of God put the town of Waco, Texas on the map. /episode/index/show/catastrophe/id/11292938

Eternal, Infernal Flame 09/05/2019

Eternal, Infernal Flame A devastating underground fire deep within the coal deposits of Pennsylvania has been burning for 57 years. Started by accident, it grew into a monstrosity that drove an entire town into oblivion. /episode/index/show/catastrophe/id/11132504

The Fault In The Food 08/20/2019

The Fault In The Food In the summer of 1971, the Middle East was hit with a devastating drought. In an effort to provide its people with food, the Iraqi government purchased 95,000 tonnes of grain from North America. Despite the good intentions, this grain would injure over 6,000 people and kill 459 officially, while more realistic estimates put the casualties at ten times those numbers. /episode/index/show/catastrophe/id/10923855

Mulholland's Mistake 08/06/2019

Mulholland's Mistake William Mulholland was a legendary figure in American engineering. He was responsible for bringing water to the thirsty young metropolis of Los Angeles. /episode/index/show/catastrophe/id/10789253

Horseshoe Nail 07/16/2019

Horseshoe Nail Catastrophes are part of life, but many of the worst are the direct result of human error. Whether it’s poor planning, design flaws, or simply greed or hubris, we are often our own worst enemy. Join volcanologist Jess Phoenix as she explores the stories of natural disaster, failure, and calamity, and what we learn from our fascination with digging through the rubble. /episode/index/show/catastrophe/id/10536197

Catastrophe!

TOPICS