536 was ‘the worst year to be alive’ (2018) (sciencemag.org)

Article summary

The article discusses the year 536 as potentially the worst year to be alive, likely due to a volcanic eruption. The eruption may have had a significant impact on the climate and societies around the world. However, the article's content is not available, and the discussion is based on the comments. The comments reveal that the eruption's effects on native American populations and the lack of written records from that time period are topics of interest.

Main themes

• volcanic eruption
• native American populations
• written records
• oral traditions
• climate impact
• European contact
• technological solutions
• natural disasters
• acts of God

What commenters say

• The lack of written records from native American populations makes it difficult to understand the impact of the eruption on these communities.
• Some argue that the year 536 may not have been the worst year for native Americans, considering the devastating effects of European contact and diseases.
• The existence of writing systems in Mesoamerica, such as the Maya script, is acknowledged, but their use and preservation are limited.
• Oral traditions were used to record historical events, but their accuracy and detail over long periods are questionable.
• The idea of a 'dark age' in Europe is disputed, with some arguing that it was a period of conversion to Catholicism rather than a decline in civilization.
• Technological solutions to mitigate the effects of a volcanic eruption, such as dispersing ash from the atmosphere, are considered unlikely or impractical.
• Preparing for and responding to natural disasters like volcanic eruptions requires having supplies and infrastructure in place to weather the fallout.
• The concept of an 'act of God' is seen as something that may be preventable or mitigable with advancing technology and human capabilities.