by Emily WallsWhile we aren’t being visited by alien spaceships or building technology that can launch us across the universe, some of the scenes in Netflix’s series “Lost in Space” are strikingly similar to scenes on Earth in recent years. The science behind the TV show illustrates that we need to change the way we treat the planet, or we too, will be Lost In Space. The premise of Lost In Space is that the Earth has become uninhabitable due to climate change and unbreathable air (because an alien spaceship hit the earth, which, yes, is unrealistic), that have forced humans to find another home. Lost In Space composes a compelling argument that Earth only has one life and it must be valued. Granted, Earth hasn’t been hit by an alien spaceship; the scenes on Earth are even more terrifying because they are caused by human advancements in technology and a lack of care for the consequences of that technology. The first starkly familiar scene from Lost In Space depicts deforestation. Forests are an important part of Earth as they “purify water and air” (WWF) increase biodiversity, and provide essential resources for those who inhabit them; however, these benefits are threatened when the world’s forests are under siege. For example, in “ the Amazon around 17% of the forest has been lost in the last 50 years,” (WWF) threatening the hundreds of thousands of species that depend on the forest including indigenous peoples. The main cause of deforestation is an overdependence on land for agriculture and ranching that requires trees to be cleared. Without sanctions that regulate the use of forest lands, the effects of climate change are going to be felt on a wider scale and lead to a mass extinction of hundreds of species and the displacement of populations. The second is a scene that illustrates the effects of desertification. Desertification is caused when“fertile land becomes desert” (Oxford Languages) as a result of over-farming, drought, or deforestation. These deserts were once places that provided shelter, food, and materials to the people who inhabited the land. Loss of these resources will lead to the eventual displacement of “135 million people… by 2045” (Britannica) as droughts and the inability to fulfill basic needs force communities to migrate to find better homes. Perhaps we won’t be floating between galaxies in a spaceship in search of a new home, but without significant measures to combat climate change and other environmental degradation, we might be facing the same realities of the theoretical future depicted in Lost In Space. The science behind Lost In Space provides a compelling argument for climate policy and bold action to save the environment. References:
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