> By some estimates, the Roman empire amounted to more than 80 million people at its peak, meaning that about a quarter of the world’s population could have been exposed to the lead pollution generated by mining and smelting. The effects of lead poisoning can be so severe that scholars have debated whether it contributed to the fall of the empire.

I wonder what will happen to current empires from micro- and nano-plastics, PFAS, airpolution, as well as harmful yet popular habits like doomscrolling and games addictions.