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Fermi Paradox
The apparent contradiction between the high probability of extraterrestrial life and the lack of evidence for, or contact with, such civilizations.
Rare Earth Hypothesis
The idea that Earth is unique or very rare in its ability to support life.
Selection bias (Anthropic Principle)
The concept that the universe must be suitable for life because we are here, but does not imply that there are other life forms.
Common Earth
The idea that life in the universe is likely common; we just haven't discovered it yet.
Drake Equation
A formula used to estimate the number of active extraterrestrial civilizations in the Milky Way galaxy.
The Great Filter
A theoretical explanation for the Fermi Paradox; suggests there are obstacles that prevent the evolution and survival of technological civilizations.
Milankovitch Cycles
Long-term variations in Earth’s orbit that affect climate and lead to ice ages.
Phanerozoic eon
The fourth eon of Earth's history, beginning 544 million years ago, marked by the Cambrian explosion.
Cambrian explosion
A rapid diversification of life forms that occurred around 540 million years ago.
Anthropocene
A proposed geological epoch that begins when human activities started to have a significant global impact on Earth’s geology and ecosystems.
Great Acceleration
A period from World War II to the present characterized by rapid increases in human population and economic activities.
Reductionism
An approach to understanding complex phenomena by reducing them to their simpler components.
Emergent properties
Characteristics of a system that can only be understood when the system is viewed as a whole.
Zoonosis
Diseases that can be transmitted between animals and humans.
Vector-borne diseases
Diseases transmitted to humans through vectors like mosquitoes, accounting for a significant percentage of infectious diseases.
Habitat loss
The destruction or degradation of natural environments, often due to human activities.
Biodiversity hotspots
Regions that are both rich in endemic species and experiencing significant habitat loss.
Functional redundancy
The presence of multiple species that fulfill similar functions in an ecosystem, providing resilience.
Biomagnification
The process where the concentration of toxic substances increases in higher trophic levels of the food chain.
Environmental Kuznets Curve
The hypothesis that environmental degradation increases up to a point as a country develops then decreases as affluence grows.
Managed retreat
A planned process of relocating communities away from hazardous areas due to environmental change.
Sustainable yield
The ecological yield that can be taken from a specific area without reducing its capacity to regenerate.
Cap and trade
An environmental policy tool that allows companies to buy and sell government-issued allowances for emissions.
Germ theory
The theory that certain diseases are caused by specific microorganisms.
Miasma theory
An obsolete medical theory that diseases were caused by 'bad air' or miasmas.
Intentional error
Type 1 Error, a false positive that occurs when one thinks there’s an effect where none exists.
False dilemma
A logical fallacy that presents two extreme options in a situation.
Ad hominem
A fallacy that attacks the character rather than the argument of the opponent.
Ecosystem services
The benefits that humans obtain from ecosystems, including provisioning, regulating, and cultural services.
Climate change mitigation
Efforts to reduce or prevent the emission of greenhouse gases.
Climate change adaptation
Adjustments in practices, processes, and structures to minimize damage from climate change.
Negative externality
A cost incurred by a third party due to an economic transaction, often unaccounted for in the market.
Just transition
A framework for ensuring that the shift to a sustainable economy does not contribute to inequities.
Resilience
The ability of a system or community to recover from disturbances.
Tipping point
A critical threshold where a small change can lead to significant and often irreversible effects.
Greenhouse effect
The trapping of the sun's warmth in the planet's lower atmosphere due to greenhouse gases.
Keeling Curve
A graph that shows the increase in carbon dioxide in the atmosphere since the late 1950s.
The War of the Commons
A situation in which individuals acting independently according to their self-interest can ultimately destroy a shared limited resource.
Urbanization
The population shift from rural to urban living, which can create conditions for disease transmission.
Vulnerability
The characteristics and circumstances that make a community susceptible to hazards.
Affluence
The abundance of wealth, resources, or goods in an environment.
Population growth
An increase in the number of individuals in a population.
Stewardship
The responsible management of resources and behavior toward the environment.
Interconnectedness
The state of being connected with each other, usually referring to ecosystems, social systems, or economic systems.
Social inequalities
Disparities in wealth, opportunities, and privileges among different social classes.
Environmental racism
Policies and practices that disproportionately impact people of color in negative environmental ways.
Political power
The authority to influence or outright control the behavior of people and it can be exercised through coercive means.
Climate justice
The fair treatment of all people in regard to climate change policy and its effects.
Ecosystem resilience
The capacity of an ecosystem to recover from disturbances and maintain its functions.
Socioeconomic status
An individual or group's position within a hierarchical social structure, often associated with income, education, and occupation.
Ecological footprint
A measure of human demand on the Earth's ecosystems, expressed as the amount of biologically productive land and water area needed to produce the resources consumed.
Sustainability
Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
Resource depletion
The consumption of a resource faster than it can be replenished.
Wildlife corridors
Restricted areas intended to preserve and connect wildlife habitats.
Trade-offs
The balance achieved between two desirable but incompatible features; a compromise.
Cultural significance
The importance placed on a cultural resource for the community.
Systemic risk
The risk of collapse of an entire system, as opposed to the risk associated with any one individual part.
Rural-urban migration
The movement of people from rural areas to cities, often driven by the search for better job opportunities.
Disaster risk reduction
Strategies to minimize vulnerabilities and disaster risks throughout the life cycle of a disaster.
Intergenerational equity
The principle of fairness in the distribution of benefits and burdens among current and future generations.
Permafrost thaw
The ongoing thawing of permafrost, which can release greenhouse gases and alter ecosystems.
Biofeedback
A technique that teaches people to control physiological processes by providing information on those processes.
Environmental stewardship
The responsible use and protection of the natural environment through conservation and sustainable practices.
Societal resilience
The ability of a society to withstand and recover from disruptions.
Carbon sinks
Natural systems that absorb and store carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
Adaptation strategies
Methods employed to help communities adjust to the effects of climate change.
Megafauna extinction
The extinction of large animals, which occurred at the end of the last Ice Age due to climate change and human activity.
Resource management
The efficient and sustainable utilization of natural resources.
Fossil fuel dependence
Reliance on fossil fuels as the primary source of energy.
Climate modeling
The application of mathematical models to predict climate variations and is used in studying global warming.
Social justice
The view that everyone deserves equal economic, political, and social rights, goods, and opportunities.
Health equity
The principle that everyone should have a fair opportunity to attain their full health potential.
Co-housing
A type of intentional community composed of private homes supplemented by shared facilities.
Environmental indicators
Variables that assess the condition of the environment, often used to measure progress towards sustainability.
Waste management
The collection, transport, processing, recycling, or disposal of waste materials.
Ecotourism
Responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people.
Sustainable agriculture
Farming that meets current food needs without compromising the ability of future generations to feed themselves.
Green economy
An economy that aims for sustainable development without degrading the environment.
Environmental litigation
The use of legal action to enforce environmental laws or regulations.
Pollinator decline
The reduction of pollinator populations, leading to potential agricultural productivity impacts.
Water scarcity
The lack of sufficient available water resources to meet the demands of water usage within a region.
Heat islands
Urban areas that experience significantly warmer temperatures than their rural surroundings due to human activities.
Ecological succession
The process by which ecosystems change and develop over time.
Carbon neutrality
Achieving a net zero carbon footprint by balancing carbon emissions with carbon removal.
Nutrient cycling
The movement and exchange of organic and inorganic matter back into the production of living matter.
Conservation biology
The study of biodiversity with the aim of protecting species and their habitats.
Preservation
The protection of something, especially in its original state.
Environmental impact assessment
A procedure for evaluating the likely impact of a proposed project on the environment.
Environmental policy
A statement or law regarding the management of human activities that impact the environment.
Social determinants of health
Conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work, and age that affect health and quality of life.
Alternative energy sources
Energy sources that are considered alternatives to fossil fuels, such as solar, wind, and geothermal energy.
Sustainable cities
Urban areas designed to minimize environmental impacts through sustainable practices.
Climate adaptation fund
Resources allocated for efforts aimed at adapting to the impacts of climate change.
Carbon offsetting
Reducing emissions of carbon dioxide or greenhouse gases to compensate for emissions produced elsewhere.
Microplastics
Small plastic particles that pollute the environment and can be harmful to wildlife.
Pollution prevention
Practices that reduce, eliminate, or prevent pollutants from being released into the environment.
Public health policy
Decisions and actions that are undertaken to protect and improve the health of the public.
Habitat restoration
The process of returning a habitat to its original condition.
Green infrastructure
An interconnected network of green space that conserves natural ecosystem values.
Integrated pest management (IPM)
An environmentally sensitive approach to pest management that relies on a combination of practices.
