Geography and all that Jazz

Life after People Several articles on this in the paper recently, on the same theme as WORLD WITHOUT US , which is on my bedside reading pile. What would happen if every human being disappeared ? This program looks at what would happen... Get a flavour at the MINISITE . You can see the programme on GOOGLE VIDEO It's on the HISTORY (go figure...) CHANNEL on EASTER SUNDAY (and other showings) Which famous building has crumbled to rust here.... Looks to be interesting viewing...

The World Without Us Reading this on the recommendation of a colleague. Interesting ideas on what would happen if humanity suddenly disappeared... Posted about this book a while ago...

After we've gone... Just ordered this book from Amazon. It sounds fascinating... It's based on an earlier essay which you can read at the DISCOVER site and which gives you a flavour for the contents of the book: what would happen if humans were to disappear from the planet. Here's an (American biased) example of some effects in New York (which would be replicated in other major world cities....) If humans were to vanish from New York , how soon would nature take over? Scientists predict that within . . . • 10 years Sidewalks crack and weeds invade. Hawks and falcons flourish, as do feral cats and dogs. The rat population, deprived of human garbage, crashes. Cockroaches, which thrive in warm buildings, disappear. Cultivated carrots, cabbages, broccoli, and brussels sprouts revert to their wild ancestors. • 20 years Water-soaked steel columns supporting subway tunnels corrode and buckle. Bears and wolves invade Central Park . • 50 years Concrete chunks tumble from buildin...