Climate Chaos and other Human- Caused Unintended Consequences
Under a White Sky:the Nature of the Future interview Elizabeth Kolbert in her new book visits cases where humans have "shot themselves in the foot" and examines whether attempts, such as geoengineering to block the sun and cool the planet, are crazy or better than not doing anything. She goes into the problems of rabbits and cane toads displacing many creatures in australia and of canals allowing invasive species such as zebra mussels to spread. -
Scientists now consider using genetically modified gene drives to wipe out introduced species such as mice, rats, cats, snails, or goats that are themselves killing off native rare species such as albatrosses, ducks, which have evolved on islands and have no adaptation to survive the introduced species. What could possible go wrong?
NPR's Science Friday 3-12-21.