Lecture Notes: The Most Dangerous Places on Earth

Introduction

• 93% of all humans who have ever lived are dead.
• For every person alive, there are 15 who are no longer alive.
• Exploring the most dangerous places on Earth.

Factors of Danger

Temperature

• Extreme temperatures can lead to death within minutes.
• In cold environments, body temperature regulation uses half of daily caloric intake.
• Example: Naked human at 0°C can die in about 20 minutes.

Oxygen Levels

• At the summit of Mount Everest, oxygen is one-third of that at sea level.
• Instant death likely if teleporting to the summit without acclimatization (2-3 minutes).

Pressure

• At the bottom of the Mariana Trench, the pressure exceeds 15,000 pounds per square inch.
• Lungs would collapse, causing unconsciousness in 15 seconds and death in under 90 seconds.

Lava

• Falling into molten lava leads to explosive steam generation due to high temperature (liquid rock, 4x hotter than an oven).
• Example: Demonstration of organic material thrown into hot lava causing mini-eruption.

Microorganisms and Historical Pests

Influenza

• In 1918, influenza killed nearly 100 million (3% of the world population).

Bubonic Plague

• 1347-1353: A third of Europe's population perished due to the plague caused by Yersinia Pestis.
• The plague still exists, with 5-15 cases reported annually in America.

Malaria

• Caused by plasmodium, transmitted through mosquito bites.
• Responsible for more deaths than influenza and plague combined; potentially half of all humans who ever lived died from malaria.

Human-Caused Dangers

Pollution

• La Oroya, Peru: High pollution from mining; low murder rate but high arsenic levels (85 times safe levels).
• Lake Karachay, Russia: Most polluted place; lethal radiation exposure within an hour near certain areas.

Crime and Safety

• Global Peace Index:
  • Safest country: Iceland.
  • Least safe: Somalia.
  • Highest murder rate: Juarez, Mexico (1,477 murders per million).
• Fictional town with highest murder rate: Cabot Cove from "Murder She Wrote" (1,490 per million).
  • Recently surpassed by San Pedro Sula, Honduras (1,588 per million).

Chernobyl and Wildlife

• 1986 nuclear accident led to mass evacuations and lethal exclusion zones.
• Surprisingly, wildlife has flourished in the absence of humans, showcasing an oxymoronic danger.

Conclusion

• Humans can create dangerous environments through pollution and crime.
• Exploring the paradox of how human absence can sometimes benefit wildlife.
• Follow links in the description for further reading.