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European Journal of Applied Sciences - Vol. 11, No. 1

Publication Date: January 25, 2023

DOI:10.14738/aivp.111.13766.

Gurevitz, M. (2023). Giant asteroid or nuclear winter - a 2023 menu. European Journal of Applied Sciences, 11(1). 40-41.

Services for Science and Education – United Kingdom

Giant Asteroid or Nuclear Winter - A 2023 Menu

Michael Gurevitz

Department of Plant Molecular Biology and Ecology George S. Wise

Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University Ramat Aviv 69978, Tel Aviv, Israel

Human fears of the unknown and death have always been a major trigger in establishment of

religions with eccentric rituals and customs, enabling delusive projection of their concerns on

a heavenly creator (God). This mystic belief provided spiritual strength and elusive serenity

(“life and death in his hands”), as well as an explanation for our existence as the ‘selected

species’ in the alleged ‘center of the universe’. However, most rational people do not accept this

ostensible perspective and prefer the scientific view that considers homo sapiens the top

mammalian species in the evolutionary tree of the animal kingdom. In this view, the survival of

the human species requires balanced relations with nature, and apt utilization of its resources.

As far as the number of humans on Earth has not exceeded the limits of feeding capabilities,

energy consumption, and free settlement space, the abuse of nature and contamination of the

environment could be tolerated, allowing humanity to focus on further development and

proliferation. However, an increasing and continuous abuse of this balance and massive

contamination and actual harassment of the environment, as well as extinction of many animal

and plant species, have expedited global changes (e.g., extreme climate incidents; holes in the

protecting ozone layer; ice melting and increased sea level; limited photosynthesis and elevated

‘green house effects’) that jeopardize our existence. Evidently, the harmful consequences of this

intensifying abuse, have raised an urgent need to establish effective rules for protecting Earth.

In parallel, developing defending means against a putative cosmic disaster (asteroid or

detrimental irradiation) must also be considered. Astoundingly, not only that very little was

done thus far in both aspects, a new terrible threat has been recently commenced by a few

dictators, whose view on the future of humanity is either naïve, or oblivious to the dangers.

Their attention is focused on personal and national issues, while ignoring the global risks, and

so Ego, fighting over resources, imperialistic aspirations, and ‘jihadist’ intentions prevail. The

public expectation in the beginning of the 21st century and after the terrible wars during the

20th century (e.g., Korea and Vietnam wars, WWI, WWII) raised hopes for an international effort

to gain a worldwide peace, and key sayings like ‘no more wars, no more bloodshed’ became

trendy. However, soon after, these hopes faded out and military clashes broke again (e.g., the

Kosovo war; Iraq invasion to Kuwait; the clash between Argentina and England over the

Falklands islands; The war between Syria and Iran; The invasions of Russia to Georgia and

Ukraine) alongside an increase in the cold war between East (Russia and China) and the West

(USA and Europe). In such a worsening reality, especially when humanity reached a point of no

return in building-up uncontrolled abilities of self-destruction (nuclear and biological means),

the anticipation of the public for international unification aiming at eradication of risky ideas

and removal from power of leaders endangering our existence, was clear. Instead, we witness

recently declarations of a few tyrants threatening to use their military nuclear potential, while

the unforgettable dreadful consequences of its usage against the Japanese during WWII

(Hiroshima and Nagasaki), or of the radioactive spills in Chernobyl in 1986 and Fukushima in

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Gurevitz, M. (2023). Giant asteroid or nuclear winter - a 2023 menu. European Journal of Applied Sciences, 11(1). 40-41.

URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.14738/aivp.111.13766

2011, are still fresh in mind. The unbearable intimidations by Kim Jong-Un of North Korea,

Vladimir Putin of Russia, the Iranian Ayatollahs, as well as of Xi Jinping from China, should have

expedited their instantaneous replacement, but to our disappointment, the situation has just

exacerbated. It seems that humanity is unable to assemble efforts toward the necessary

industrial, agricultural and political changes that would save us from a frightful end. Although

necessary restrictions might affect our life-style, they are critical to diminish the abuse of nature

and minimize the contamination of our environment, as well as get rid of these ‘shaheed-like’

leaders. Amazingly, the majority of the public and most world leaders seem to be unaware or

ignore the forthcoming risks, while continuing their routines and omitting the warnings. This

apathy, that may result from anxiety, ignorance, and disbelief, is frightening as it is reminiscent

of the collapse of great empires, where people ignored early signs of the decline, while

continuing their hedonistic habits (“Carpe diem”) all the way to the ensuing fall. No doubt,

operative steps in saving Earth and removal of extremists from power may be drastic, painful,

and require immense sacrifice, but do we have another alternative?