May 2, 2001: Climate Change - Dr. Peter D. Ward

Art Bell welcomes Professor Peter D. Ward, a geological sciences professor at the University of Washington, to discuss his book Rivers in Time and the search for clues to Earth's mass extinctions. Ward presents evidence from ice core records showing that catastrophic climate shifts can occur in as little as ten years, with the potential to plunge Europe into a devastating ice age through disruption of Atlantic Ocean circulation patterns.

Ward explains how global warming could paradoxically trigger rapid cooling, threatening agriculture and potentially reducing world population from billions to three billion. He describes the relationship between glacial periods and extreme weather, including hundred-mile-per-hour winds that would make jet travel impossible. The professor shares his encounter with Edward Teller, who revealed concerns about nuclear weapons used for planetary defense and their atmospheric risks.

The discussion covers the current rate of species extinction, which Ward says approaches the level seen during the dinosaur die-off 65 million years ago. He argues that while intelligent life is rare in the universe, humans are remarkably resilient and likely "extinction-proof" compared to other species on Earth.