Man's Footprint
First we explored what earth has to offer. The we messed it up. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), recent report confirms what many have feared; the predicted environmental catastrophe is upon us. Apparently we cannot dodge the bullet. Just too damn late. Oh well.

There's always escape through interplanetary travel to find new, pristine places for man. Or maybe not.

In yet another scary scenario, the very people that bought us space exploration say we have reached the critical 'spatial density' required for a chain reaction of exploding space debris.

Apparently, there is so much junk orbiting above our polluted Eden that it is more than likely that a collision between bits of this junk would cause more junk that would cause more collisions that could destroy, for example, a satellite, the space station or the shuttle. Or all of them. It wouldn't stop. Eventually, the near space would be impenetrable for future space exploration. Oh well.

The only part of the story that gives me hope is the excessive use of the term 'expert'.

You may need to subscibe to the web edition New York Times to view this. It is painless and free.