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Modern-Day Apocalypse: How Climate Change, Pandemics, and AI Are Shaping End-of-World Fears

webbercookn
9 min readOct 9, 2024

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The concept of apocalypse has long captivated the human imagination. From ancient prophecies to modern-day dystopian narratives, humanity has often pondered its ultimate demise. In today’s world, however, the existential threats facing us have taken on new forms, rooted in real-world crises like climate change, global pandemics, and the rise of artificial intelligence (AI). These interconnected challenges have not only reignited age-old fears of the apocalypse but also transformed them into more urgent and plausible concerns.

In today’s world, however, the existential threats facing us have taken on new forms, rooted in real-world crises like climate change, global pandemics, and the rise of artificial intelligence (AI).

This article will explore how these three global forces are shaping modern-day fears of the end of the world, how they intertwine, and the psychological and societal impacts of living in an era where apocalyptic anxieties feel increasingly tangible.

The Climate Crisis: A Slow-Burning Catastrophe

Escalating Climate Fears

Climate change is arguably the most visible and pressing global crisis of our time. The warming of the Earth’s atmosphere due to human activity, primarily through greenhouse gas emissions, has led to increasingly severe weather events, rising sea levels, and disruptions in ecosystems and food production. For many, these signs of…

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