As I discussed in my book Science Left Behind, the single biggest threat facing humanity is poverty. That’s a mundane topic; it’s neither sexy nor trendy, but it’s nonetheless true…

The lack of adequate healthcare explains why, in the world’s poorest countries, six of the ten leading causes of death are infectious diseases: lower respiratory infections, diarrhea, AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis and neonatal infections.

In fact, microbiologists in particular would disagree that climate change is the world’s #1 threat. Instead, their biggest fear is the terrifying rise of multi-drug resistant bacteria, as well as the ever-present threat of deadly viruses going pandemic, such as influenza and MERS.

Foreign policy analysts worry about nuclear proliferation, terrorism, and the long-term stability of regional hot spots, such as the Middle East, the Korean peninsula, and the India-Pakistan border. Economists worry about the Eurozone and the possibility of another global financial panic. Energy analysts worry about peak oil and society’s capability of utilizing new forms of energy. Global health experts worry about malnutrition.