New technologies vs. mega-disasters.

• Position: Survival - Brief Article

One of these days, planet Earth might be rocked by "The Big One"--an asteroid impact, a large-scale earthquake, or a massive volcanic eruption. As of today, we're not ready.

"The good news is that for the first time in history we might be gaining the tools to adapt to massive natural changes," disaster-prevention expert Douglas Mulhall told the World Future Society, Bethesda, Md. The tools are the rapidly developing technologies of robotics, genetics, nanotechnology, and artificial intelligence. Once these are fully realized, we can build cheaper defenses against super-disasters.

Here are disaster scenarios with examples of self-defense technologies that could help humanity survive:

Floods force mass evacuations. Super-strong nanotube construction combined with rapid tunneling techniques will give us high-speed transcontinental tunnels that double as evacuation corridors. Advances in materials and guidance systems could help create pilotless...