Life After People

I'm reading Earth Abides by George R. Martin which makes The History Channel's(yes the History Channel!)upcoming special Life After People(Starting Monday at 9pm) especially interesting:
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Photo: Worth 1000

"..What would happen to planet earth if the human race were to suddenly disappear forever? Would ecosystems thrive? What remnants of our industrialized world would survive? What would crumble fastest?"

"..Abandoned skyscrapers would, after hundreds of years, become "vertical ecosystems" complete with birds, rodents and even plant life. One small animal might be responsible for bringing down the Hoover Dam hydroelectric plant. Swelled rivers, crumbling bridges and buildings, grizzly bears in California and herds of buffalo returning to the Great Western Plains: In a world without humans, these would be the visual hallmarks. Our cars would shrivel to piles of dust, our house pets would be overtaken by flourishing wildlife and most of the records of our human storybooks, photos, recordswould fade quickly, leaving little evidence that we ever existed.."

Link.

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