Lord Martin Rees gives first Sagan lecture, "Surviving the Century"

After 4.5 billion years of existence, Earth’s fate may be determined this century by one species alone – ours. The unintended consequences of powerful technologies like nuclear, biotech and artificial intelligence have created high cosmic stakes for our world. The United Kingdom’s Astronomer Royal, Lord Martin Rees, explored our vulnerabilities and possibilities in the first Carl Sagan Distinguished Lecture, May 8, 2017. Rees was introduced by Ann Druyan, Emmy and Peabody award-winning writer/producer of the PBS documentary series "Cosmos" and board member of Cornell’s Carl Sagan Institute, sponsor of the lecture.