"Alexander Von Humboldt and others sparked a centuries-long debate about natural history and geological destiny by discussing what today we call the environment. Some now believe the earth cannot safely accommodate its growing burdens; others say longer life spans and more people are signs of progress. Are humans destroying the earth, or building a better world? Will the future bring despair and destruction—or hope and improvement? The Science and Discovery series recreates history's four thousand year journey to better understand the world through scientific means. It is a story of vested interests and independent thinkers, experiments and theories, change and progress."