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If humans went extinct, what would the Earth look like one year later?

Posted Jun 13, 2023

Have you ever wondered what the world would be like if everyone suddenly disappeared?

What would happen to all our stuff? What would happen to our houses, our schools, our neighborhoods, our cities? Who would feed the dog? Who would cut the grass? Although it’s a common theme in movies, TV shows and books, the end of humanity is still a strange thing to think about.

But as an associate professor of urban design at Iowa State University – that is, someone who helps towns and cities plan what their communities will look like – it’s sometimes Carlton Basmajian’s job to think about prospects like this.

Read Basmajian’s full article in The Conversation here.