Fifty years ago, the bestselling book “The Population Bomb” inspired governments to consider population controls. The book’s dire predictions thankfully have not yet happened, but are we still on the brink of disaster? Or maybe the Earth can handle more than we think. This is the second in a series of listener-requested topics. | Want to support 1A? Subscribe to our podcast and give to your local public radio station at donate.npr.org/1A. Email the show at 1a@wamu.org.