The steady stream (no pun intended) of research on global warming the last two weeks is distracting this trend-watcher. Yesterday, Nasa scientists revealed that, in the last two years, Arctic sea ice has shrunken to levels not seen since satellites began watching in 1979. Philoneist found a lovely Princeton University study this morning on the technological inadequacies, and therefore threats, of electronic voting, but the global-warming studies overwhelmed his interest them. In the long-run--our grandchildren's world--the sea-ice study hangs above every imaginable science, technology or economics story like the sword that prevented King Dyonisius' guest from enjoying the riches at his table. Modernity is Damocles.

The Nasa scientists are hard-pressed to explain the lower sea-ice levels without the greenhouse gases industrial life has emitted the last 200 years. Addressing climate change and petro-terrorism in theory is not difficult: Cut back fossil-fuel emissions and build "safe" nuclear plants until someone invents reliable and efficient solar power. (In theory, theory and practice are the same. In practice, they are different.) But if anyone has a better suggestion, best to speak up in the next 10 years.