Giving Compass' Take:

• Inventor and engineer Danny Hillis discusses a novel idea about mitigating global warming: Put chalk dust into the atmosphere so it can reflect sunlight back into space.

• Does this solution sound overly simplistic? Hillis expresses concerns over "quick fixes" for big environmental problems, but the importance of looking to science for the sake of the common good is always a solid idea.

• Of course, awareness is also a big factor. Here's why most Americans don't think climate change will affect them.

In this perspective-shifting talk, Danny Hillis prompts us to approach global issues like climate change with creative scientific solutions. Taking a stand for solar geoengineering, he looks at controversial solutions with open-minded curiosity.

Watch the video about geoengineering and cooling the Earth with chalk from TED.