March 27, 2001: Technology Failures - Matthew Stein

Matthew Stein joins Art to discuss his book "When Technology Fails" as California approves massive electricity rate increases and real-world infrastructure failures mount. The episode chronicles a dramatic near-miss with a record-breaking mega solar flare that could have destroyed satellites and knocked out critical systems had it been Earth-directed. Art interviews Bill Marquette from Big Bear Solar Observatory who confirms the flare potentially reached X-22 class, the largest ever recorded. The discussion explores electromagnetic pulse effects in Bremerton, Washington and Pahrump, Nevada, where entire regions experienced mysterious failures of keyless car remotes and electronic locks. A nuclear accident at San Onofre that contributed to California blackouts went virtually unreported. Art examines the fragility of modern technological systems from power grids to water supplies, with Florida facing its worst drought in history. The conversation explores low-tech survival strategies and self-reliance as technological complexity increases vulnerability to catastrophic cascading failures.