Asimov Isaac. A Choice of Catastrophes: The Disasters That Threaten Our World

Ballantine Books, 1981 — 380 p. — ISBN 9780449900482, 0449900487Isaac Asimov, scientist, author, and Earth-dweller, explores the many potential natural and man-made catastrophes that could change life as we know it, or erase us from the face of the Earth.
Natural properties and laws might change at any time, rendering life on this planet - or anywhere in the universe - impossible. But the disasters that are most imminent are in our power to control - technology, nuclear warfare, pollution. Natural forces far more powerful than man might destroy us. Or they may have nothing to do with bringing about the end.
Defining five classes of catastrophes threatening contemporary civilization, Asimov discusses black holes, supernovas, quasars, meteorite bombardment of Earth, volcanoes, earthquakes, nuclear war, and other natural and manmade forcesIntroduction
Catastrophes of the First Class
The Day of Judgement
Ragnarok · Messianic Expectations · Millennarianism
The Increase of Entropy
The Conservation Laws · Energy Flow · The Second Law of Thermodynamics · Movement at Random
The Closing of the Universe
The Galaxies · The Expanding Universe · The Contracting Universe
The Collapse of Stars
Gravitation · Black Holes · Quasars · Within Our Galaxy
Catastrophes of the Second Class
Collisions with the Sun
Birth by Close Encounter · Orbiting the Galactic Nucleus · Mini-Black Holes · Antimatter and Free-Planets
The Death of the Sun
The Energy-Source · Red Giants · White Dwarfs · Supernovas · Sunspots · Neutrinos
Catastrophes of the Third Class
The Bombardment of the Earth
Extraterrestrial Objects · Comets · Asteroids · Meteorites
The Slowing of the Earth
Tides · The Longer Day · The Receding Moon · The Approaching Moon
The Drift of the Crust
Internal Heat · Catastrophism · The Moving Continents · Volcanoes · Earthquakes · The Tectonic Future
The Change of Weather
The Seasons · Triggering the Glaciers · Orbital Variations· The Arctic Ocean · The Effect of Glaciation
The Removal of Magnetism
Cosmic Rays · DNA and Mutations · The Genetic Load · Earth’s Magnetic Field
Catastrophes of the Fourth Class
The Competition of Life
Large Animals · Small Animals · Infectious Disease · Microorganisms · New Disease
The Conflict of Intelligence
Nonhuman Intelligence · War · Barbarians · Gunpowder to Nuclear Bombs
Catastrophes of the Fifth Class
The Depletion of Resources
Renewable Items · Metals · Pollution · Energy: Old ·Energy: New · Energy: Copious
The Dangers of Victory
Population · Education · Technology · Computers
Afterword