Question Your World - Megacities!! Happy New Year!!

Question Your World - Megacities! by ScienceMuseumofVA



In 1950 there was only one city on the planet that held 10 million (plus) people. Now there are several more. As the population of our planet grows, as do the amount of megacities. Tokyo is high a top the list with almost 34 MILLION people!! Talk about a MEGA-city! These cities also happen to be some of the most watched places for New Years fun! So, this year when you're watching the ball drop, be sure to consider the amazing amount of people that are in New York, Paris, Tokyo, Delhi, and various other megacities all around the world! Happy New Year everyone!!

Question Your World - Bad Predictions...about computers

Question Your World - Bad Predictions by ScienceMuseumofVA

So, things have changed a lot since 1943. Back then the computer industry was tiny compared to the giant booming, seemingly endless industry that it is these days. Thomas Watson has been quoted (or misquoted depending on who you ask) about how the world market could hold maybe 5 computers. Five computers?? Really?? Well, currently there are nearly 1 billion personal computers on the planet right now! If these trends continue we should hit the 2 billion mark in the year 2015. Wow! Motherload of motherboards! Wait, it gets better. This calculation is only based on personal computers. Once you factor in the machines used by various companies (big and small) and the millions used by governments around the world, that number becomes significantly larger!

Regardless, that quote sure was a sign of the times. Those words could never be said today.
For more information on Thomas Watson check out his wiki page!

QUESTION YOUR WORLD: How many people live on Earth?

Population 7 Billion! - Question Your World by ScienceMuseumofVA

There's a pretty good chance that you've seen some other people today somewhere. Well, we are currently ushering in a new milestone for humanity, 7 billion people. That's right, the Earth is home to 7 billion of us. This is most impressive considering that it took us nearly 199,000 years to get from very few of us to 1 billion of us. 1804 marked the year when humanity reached the billions. The thought of 1 billion people in 1804 is pretty interesting, but pails in comparison to the exponential growth that our population saw soon after. Check out how we grew from 1 billion to 7 billion:
1804 - After nearly 200,000 years we reached 1 billion
1930 - 2 billion
1960 - 3 billion!
1974 - 4 Billion!!
1987 - 5 BILLION!!!
1999 - 6 BILLION!!!!!!
2011 - 7 BILLION!!!!!!!!!!

So nearly 199,000 years to get to 1 billion and only 207 years to get to 7 billion! That's some exceptional exponential growth!
http://www.worldof7billion.org - Follow the countdown and get more information on this growing population's impact on our world!