Why Explore Space? Curing Climate Change! w/ Alan Gratz, author of Two Degrees

<p>Welcome back to The Cosmic Companion! This week, we kick off a new series, <em>Why Explore Space?</em> As we discuss how space travel and exploration are essential to help monitor and cure the effects of global climate change. </p><p>Later on in the show, we are going to be talking with Alan Gratz. His new book, Two Degrees, is a young adult novel exploring the effects of catastrophic climate change around the world. </p><p>Since the earliest days of the human race, people have been attempting to predict the weather. Such prognostications were essential for planting, hunting, and other reasons. </p><p>The realization that climate is vital to understanding weather took quite a while for scientists to understand. And, the climates of Earth have changed over time, and will continue to change in the future. </p><p>From the time of the Ancient Greeks, people have discussed the idea that human actions could change environmental conditions on Earth. </p><p>By the 19th Century, researchers had started to realize, for the first time, that human activities — notably the consumption of fossil fuels — had started to alter the atmosphere of Earth, adding to the CO2 which naturally envelopes our planet. </p><p>Listen to the podcast version of this episode here or <a target="_blank" href="https://youtu.be/CU-XlzIOqpU">watch it as a video</a>!</p><p><em>(technical video problems plague the first half of the episode. Sorry about that!)</em></p><p></p><p>My birthday is next week, so I am on vacation! </p><p>Join us again on 26 November for <em>The Future of Cities in Space!</em> w/ Nat Geo’s Joe Yogerst, author of <em>100 Cities 5000 Ideas</em> from National Geographic.</p><p></p><p>And - here is a look at our schedule for the rest of the year! I hope you listen and watch every week! </p><p>Clear skies! James</p><p></p><p></p><p> </p> <br/><br/>Get full access to The Cosmic Companion w/ James Maynard at <a href="https://thecosmiccompanion.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&#38;utm_campaign=CTA_4">thecosmiccompanion.subst