Alexander Von Humboldt and others sparked a centuries-long debate about natural
history and geological destiny by discussing what today we call the environment. Some now
believe the earth cannot safely accommodate its growing burdens; others say longer life spans and
more people are signs of progress. Are humans destroying the earth, or building a better world? Will
the future bring despair and destructionor hope and improvement?

The Science and Discovery series recreates history's four thousand year journey to better understand
the world through scientific means. It is a story of vested interests and independent thinkers, experiments
and theories, change and progress.

University of North Carolina at Charlotte