If 2013 has you feeling a bit apocalyptic, you might be interested in a new report out of Stanford University. It suggests that yes, the total collapse of human civilization is a real, definable threat right now, for reasons that you are probably familiar with. Chief among them are how we use the world's resources, especially overconsumption by the wealthy. The Stanford study also suggests ways to prevent this human collapse, including a critical first step you might not expect.

According to this report, we would make a major impact in our own demise... by giving women equal rights.

Stanford Biology Professor Paul Ehrlich co-authored the study. The report appears in the Proceedings of the Royal Society.

Listen to an interview with Ehrlich, above.