Humanity After An Apocalypse | Bright Now

Explore the concept of a post-apocalyptic scenario where a major catastrophe—such as a viral pandemic, nuclear war, or asteroid strike—has decimated humanity. Even if 99% of the population were lost, millions would still survive, much like the populations during the Bronze Age. Guided by Professor Lewis Dartnell, delve into the scientific knowledge and technological inventions that would be most crucial to help survivors rebuild civilization from scratch. What would it take to restart society in a post-apocalyptic world?

Bright Now, Apocalypse 101

Could you find a way to survive in a post-apocalyptic world? Astrobiologist and author Lewis Dartnell explores what it would take to stay alive following a global cataclysm, and what knowledge we would need to rebuild civilization as we know it.

#CuriosityStream #Apocalypse #Science

[arielrolim]

By far, the worst hazard would be other desperate people. Humans can be pretty nasty and things would get pretty ugly, pretty fast.

[dragonvliss]

I'm 79 years old and trained as a historian, specializing in the European Middle Ages. I also am very found of post apocalypse science fiction. Good Science Fiction is in some ways, the "history of the future" -- case studies of what society might actually be in certain situations. I know that if the apocalypse happens, I am toast. I know a lot about how people lived in a pre-industrial age, but not how to do it myself. But unless the disaster happens in the next ten or twenty years, I am not going to have to worry about it. One of my favorite SF stories about what such a situation might be for a group of ordinary people from a time close to now and a culture of a small suburb of San Francisco is Earth Abides by George Stewart. I think it is perhaps the most realistic story about such a thing I have ever read.

[corbinhbucknerjr]

Within 2 weeks of an apocalyptic event, half of western civilization will be lying dead, still clutching a cell phone with a dead battery.

[rodneynatzel]

I’m skilled enough to make it through the apocalypse, but not quite skilled enough to make it through a marriage

[mr.makeit]

So you tell people to go to rural areas out of the city. Thing is those of us who already live in rural areas are trying to survive as well. This would be for sure a conflict in itself.

[oliverolover]

You can live a lot longer without food than without water, clean uncontaminated water needs to be priority one.

[SteveSmith-lowd]

My parents always told us that there would come a day when there will not be enough people to run the backhoes or even dig mass graves for all the dead.

[GeckoHiker]

I am a rural homesteader. If I survive an apocalytic situation I am certainly not going to rebuild a failed civilization. I will live like it's 1599 in America.

So don't leave the safety of your cities. Many rural families have been scratching out a living for a couple of centuries. They are prepared to fend off an influx of the unprepared. We even tell family member who think we will save them from an apocalypse they didn't prepare for. Don't come empty-handed. Bring trade goods, seeds, hoes, shovels, food, first aid, and your medicine. Be prepared to work hard. And no whining!

[flamingmoe]

Coming to my farm uninvited might be even less survivable

[hillockfarm]

That supermarket scavenge forgets about the mice and rats that will rapidly multiply in such locations. Tins and glass (with metal lids) may be safe, simple plastic packaging they'll chew through easily. And the glass is only safe if they don't learn to push it of shelves so the glass breaks ...

[Hedgehog]

here's my thing is what would the point of surviving after an apocalypse happened? see every human has a certain a rate of survival due to their health. if someone has a disease that hinders them most of the time, they're probably not gonna survive that long. unlike someone who is pretty healthy, they could survive for awhile because they're not dependent on drugs and etc to live.

[mostakcz]

reading through some of these comments is quite alarming. "City dwellers not welcome!" Like wow....even a global catastrophe that kills 99% of the population isn't enough to make humans not think about themselves for once, and actually help each other. Definitely not a society I'd even be interested in rebuilding. I'd rather take my chances with the unknown in afterlife lol. Ps there are TONS of people who move to the city from rural areas, so assuming city folk are "useless and unresourceful" is equivalent to assuming all rural folk are ignorant. And choosing self preservation over a community effort is ignorant as hell.

[mikejansen]

Only people that grew up before computers will survive.
They lived in reality...

[AAful]

"Damnit! - no more 5G? - I should've died with the catastrophe!"

[shinankoku]

“I never thought I’d have to learn the plural of apocalypse.” - Buffy the Vampire Slayer

[Nofretari]

I am already preparing for the collapse. My neighborhood is getting ready out here in the boonies.

[kimbercafe]

What do you think will happen when our society becomes lawless? You may be prepared to survive temporarily but eventually what you have will be taken from you. Your only hope for long term will be a fortified bunker with a lot of weapons and people.
Its gonna be one big power grab, folks.

[paris]

If you're not already out of the city *before* it goes down sorry, you're not likely to get out.

[JULYXXIV]

If you want a good idea as to what could happen in the hours following an apocalyptic event, look no further than New Orleans, Louisiana on August 29, 2005. All hell broke loose. Even the NOPD practically collapsed when communications broke down, so reliance on established institutions would be folly.

[DistrictMemories]

Finally someone is writing a book that would help us re-start civilization.