Xavier had with little trouble gotten through the government filters.   As he gains access to the unfiltered news on the net.<br/><br/>Yes much has changed, it was more then just a passing.  It had a sense of permanency.  One that would be for the next cycle of events with the aligning of the celestial heavens.<br/><br/>In terms of understanding, it happened because people turned a blind eye.  Lazily said not in our lifetime to ruining the environment.   Allowed overzealous gain control.   An when Xavier finds himself questioning what happened.  How did it sneak up him, the world and its downfall.  He finds the answer, he had been blind to it.