5/15/2014
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Joe Rogan Experience #501 – Randall Carlson
This podcast with master builder and renegade scholar Randall Carlson delves deep into Earth’s history, particularly focusing on the impact of catastrophic events like asteroid collisions and mega-floods. Carlson challenges conventional scientific thinking, suggesting that Earth’s history is much more dynamic and volatile than often presented. He unravels compelling evidence of pre-historic civilizations and their potential demise, emphasizing the significance of past cataclysms and their potential to reshape our future.
The podcast sparks engaging conversations on topics ranging from the validity of ancient myths and legends to the current state of climate change debates. Provocative claims are presented, challenging traditional interpretations of history and scientific consensus. The discussion underscores the importance of critical thinking and the need to explore alternative perspectives, particularly when confronting complex and controversial issues.
Major Topics:
- The Holocene Crater and Ancient Cataclysms:
- Carlson presents the idea that Earth has experienced multiple catastrophic events beyond the well-known dinosaur-extinction impact 65 million years ago.
- He suggests these events could be the basis for ancient myths and legends like the Epic of Gilgamesh and the Noah’s Ark story.
- Recent scientific discoveries, like the presence of nuclear glass in Europe and Asia, support Carlson’s theories.
- The discovery of nuclear glass, a substance typically associated with nuclear explosions, strengthens the argument for multiple impact events in Earth’s past.
- The Younger Dryas Impact Event:
- Carlson argues that the Younger Dryas event, a rapid cooling period that ended the last Ice Age, was likely triggered by multiple asteroid impacts.
- He points to the presence of a black mat layer in Clovis sites across North America, which contains evidence of soot, Iridium, nanodiamonds, and other impact signatures.
- This event is linked to a massive extinction of megafauna, including woolly mammoths, saber-toothed tigers, and giant ground sloths.
- The Younger Dryas event was a dramatic shift in climate, potentially leading to the extinction of numerous species, including woolly mammoths and other large mammals.
- The Role of Catastrophes in Shaping Earth’s History:
- Carlson challenges the dominant paradigm of uniformitarianism, which suggests that Earth’s history is driven by gradual, continuous processes.
- He argues that catastrophic events have played a significant role in shaping Earth’s landscapes and its biodiversity.
- He cites examples like the formation of the Grand Canyon, which he believes was primarily shaped by catastrophic floods rather than slow erosion by the Colorado River.
- He emphasizes that catastrophic events, such as asteroid impacts and volcanic eruptions, can have profound and lasting effects on Earth’s environment, potentially leading to mass extinctions.
- Climate Change: Challenging the Consensus:
- Carlson questions the dominant narrative surrounding human-caused climate change, suggesting that CO2 is only one factor in a complex system.
- He points to the influence of cosmic rays, solar irradiance, and natural cycles in Earth’s climate history.
- He highlights the flatlining of global average temperatures over the last 15 years, despite increasing CO2 emissions, suggesting other factors may be at play.
- Carlson argues for a more nuanced understanding of climate change, recognizing the influence of multiple factors beyond human activity and the importance of adaptability rather than solely focusing on CO2 reduction.
- The Great Pyramids and Pre-historic Technology:
- Carlson posits that ancient civilizations may have possessed advanced technologies that we have forgotten, based on the complexity and scale of megalithic structures like the pyramids and Baalbek.
- He questions the conventional explanations for how these structures were built, suggesting that they may represent a lost knowledge of advanced engineering and construction techniques.
- He points to the erosion patterns on the Sphinx as evidence of a much older construction date than currently accepted, suggesting a potential pre-diluvian civilization.
- The discussion explores the possibility that ancient civilizations had advanced knowledge and technology that was lost due to catastrophic events, potentially explaining the existence of megalithic structures that defy current understanding.
- The Importance of Ancient Myths and Legends:
- Carlson believes that ancient myths and legends often contain kernels of truth, potentially reflecting real events that have been passed down through generations.
- He argues that these stories, particularly those involving floods and cataclysms, should be taken seriously and investigated for potential historical accuracy.
- He suggests that the recurring themes of floods and survival in myths across cultures might reflect actual events that shaped human history.
- Carlson contends that ancient myths and legends, often dismissed as mere folklore, might contain hidden truths about the past and serve as valuable clues for understanding Earth’s history.
- The Need for a Cosmic Civilization:
- Carlson advocates for a future where humanity becomes a cosmic civilization, venturing beyond Earth to explore and exploit the resources of space.
- He argues that space exploration is essential for human survival and for fostering a greater understanding of our place in the universe.
- He believes that space exploration offers a path towards overcoming our limited perspectives and confronting the challenges of Earth’s unpredictable nature.
- Carlson argues that space exploration offers a path towards a more sustainable and resilient future for humanity, potentially enabling us to overcome the challenges of Earth’s unpredictable environment and ensure our long-term survival.
Memorable Quotes:
- “If there’s any implication to the work that I’ve been doing is that we certainly can’t take our present position for granted.”
- “We’re basically this civilization that is banking on the knowledge that we’ve accumulated over a very small amount of time. And as we’re uncovering more and more evidence, more and more information, we’re starting to realize our ignorance.”
- “The longest interglacial period now on record for at least the last quarter million years, the longest one, the longest unbroken period of interglacial warmth is the Holocene, the one we’re in now. We’ve already exceeded by several millennium. The longest previous period of interglacial warmth.”
- “It’s a perspective issue. It’s a perspective. Exactly. Exactly.”
- “I think clearly that’s a clear hint that saying this is not the primordial creation. It’s a subsequent creation to something a previous order of things. Why use the word replenish?”
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