ABSTRACT
Throughout history humans have been forced by natural powers to limit their existence to areas where they are safe from harm caused by extreme heat, cold, storms or floods. In the course of evolution, humans increasingly moved to more hostile areas and conquered these new habitats. Through intelligence and technical advancement many dangers could be averted, prevented and safeguarded against. Consequently, humans have been convinced of their ability to populate and conquer the entire planet. Unfortunately, or maybe luckily, during recent years humans have been put back in their place more and more frequently by nature. Unusually long periods of extreme heat or cold, severe storms, unpredictable earthquakes, volcano eruptions, and more frequently occurring flood disasters stake the limits that define human existence.
