From the Editor

At least since the days of Malthus, people have wondered when the planet will be too full of people. During the last several generations – as the number of humans has grown exponentially and our use of resources has skyrocketed – the question has taken on particular force. This place can feel intolerably crowded, and it seems only reasonable to ask: How many more souls can we possibly fit?

But I think that to wonder in 2009 when Earth will be overpopulated misses the point. It seems obvious to me at least that we are already well past full. The clearest proof of that are the 1.1 billion people who live without …more

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