Uploaded December 2021 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Writer & Novelist Neal Stephenson provides an overview of historical global effects from volcanic eruptions, as well as the hypothetical concept of solar geoengineering -- an artificial technique to reproduce those same effects.
From the Long Now Seminar, “Termination Shock” by Neal Stephenson.
Watch the full talk here: youtu.be/P56Q8OcYRJo
Neal Stephenson’s sweeping, prescient new novel transports readers to a near-future world in which the greenhouse effect has inexorably resulted in a whirling-dervish troposphere of superstorms, rising sea levels, global flooding, merciless heat waves, and virulent, deadly pandemics.
One man, a visionary billionaire restaurant chain magnate, has a Big Idea for reversing global warming, a master plan perhaps best described as “elemental.” But will it work? And just as important, what are the consequences for the planet and all of humanity should it be applied?
Ranging from the Texas heartland to the Dutch royal palace in the Hague, from the snow-capped peaks of the Himalayas to the sunbaked Chihuahuan Desert, the novel brings together a disparate group of characters from different cultures and continents who grapple with the real-life repercussions of global warming. Epic in scope while heartbreakingly human in perspective, "Termination Shock" sounds a clarion alarm, considers dire risks, and ponders potential solutions.
"Termination Shock" was given on November 17, 02021 as part of Long Now's Seminar series. The series was started in 02003 to build a compelling body of ideas about long-term thinking from some of the world's leading thinkers. The Seminars take place in San Francisco and are curated and hosted by Stewart Brand. To follow the talks, you can:
Subscribe to our podcasts: longnow.org/seminars/podcast
Explore the full series: longnow.org/seminars
More ideas on long-term thinking: blog.longnow.org
The Long Now Foundation is a non-profit dedicated to fostering long-term thinking and responsibility. Our projects include a 10,000 Year Clock, endangered language preservation, thousand year+ data storage, and Long Bets, an arena for accountable predictions.
Become a Long Now member to support this series, join our community, and connect with our ongoing work to explore and deepen long-term thinking: longnow.org/membership
Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/longnow
Follow us on Twitter: twitter.com/longnow
Subscribe to our channel: youtube.com/longnow
Writer & Novelist Neal Stephenson provides an overview of historical global effects from volcanic eruptions, as well as the hypothetical concept of solar geoengineering -- an artificial technique to reproduce those same effects.
From the Long Now Seminar, “Termination Shock” by Neal Stephenson.
Watch the full talk here: youtu.be/P56Q8OcYRJo
Neal Stephenson’s sweeping, prescient new novel transports readers to a near-future world in which the greenhouse effect has inexorably resulted in a whirling-dervish troposphere of superstorms, rising sea levels, global flooding, merciless heat waves, and virulent, deadly pandemics.
One man, a visionary billionaire restaurant chain magnate, has a Big Idea for reversing global warming, a master plan perhaps best described as “elemental.” But will it work? And just as important, what are the consequences for the planet and all of humanity should it be applied?
Ranging from the Texas heartland to the Dutch royal palace in the Hague, from the snow-capped peaks of the Himalayas to the sunbaked Chihuahuan Desert, the novel brings together a disparate group of characters from different cultures and continents who grapple with the real-life repercussions of global warming. Epic in scope while heartbreakingly human in perspective, "Termination Shock" sounds a clarion alarm, considers dire risks, and ponders potential solutions.
"Termination Shock" was given on November 17, 02021 as part of Long Now's Seminar series. The series was started in 02003 to build a compelling body of ideas about long-term thinking from some of the world's leading thinkers. The Seminars take place in San Francisco and are curated and hosted by Stewart Brand. To follow the talks, you can:
Subscribe to our podcasts: longnow.org/seminars/podcast
Explore the full series: longnow.org/seminars
More ideas on long-term thinking: blog.longnow.org
The Long Now Foundation is a non-profit dedicated to fostering long-term thinking and responsibility. Our projects include a 10,000 Year Clock, endangered language preservation, thousand year+ data storage, and Long Bets, an arena for accountable predictions.
Become a Long Now member to support this series, join our community, and connect with our ongoing work to explore and deepen long-term thinking: longnow.org/membership
Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/longnow
Follow us on Twitter: twitter.com/longnow
Subscribe to our channel: youtube.com/longnow
