The other people are not missing... the remaining 0.1% of the 'survivors' have been moved to be "studied"... ala 'Matrix' or 'lost' type reality created for the 'experiment'. The SURVIVORS are the ones that are missing.

Its far easier to move the 0.1% then the other Billions of people right ? (Thats still a huge number of survivors however)

Its an expreiment in human behaviour. The technology does not work because 1) its easier to create a study environment and 2) the subjects base emotions and reactions will shine through. Instinctive survival, fear, anger, fight or flight instincts.

Neutron bombs, viruses etc will not work in the other theories because they dont effect clothing. And nothing biological would give immunity to atomic weaponry.

As i watched the series i came up with my own theory involving the sun.

I beilive something major has caused a Electro Magnetic Ultra Violet Solar Flare.
With this efectively causing a EMP shock to the planet as well as a super radiant blast to the people causing them to simply evaperate into thin air causing a huge amount of steam.
This steam was then evaperated in the air and raised which eventualy caused rain clouds.
The remaining people i beilive had a kind of Evelutionary Step in the right direction causing them to be "Immune" to the flare.
Like how a plant grows thorns or having a bad taste to aviod being eaten.
Or how a animal evolves to be able to eat it.
But effectively becoming immune to the Flare.
Some of you may be asking how can the sun effect the earth while its night.
Well im thinking it kind of curled around the planet and just wiping across the northern hemisphere.
As the flare hit the earth it passed through many of the buildings hitting the humans directly.

I cannot however explain the animals..
Unless they knw it was coming and took cover somehow.

And im pretty sure that the creators will see us brain storming and work on the series using our stories.

Based on the newly released journal entries we need to review a polar magnetic shift or possible dimensional shift. Constellations don't "move".

Here is the sketch from the Journal. Being that the person making the sketch is an Astronomer you can bet the declination would have been accruate based on his viewpoint from the ground. Hence, we know the following:

This is what he saw and made note of before passing on to Russ. We know that "The Fall" occured in late April or Early May. Here is what the sky looks like at night from the northeastern US.

Even at the very latest, if the Fall Occured on May 31st, the journal entry would put this sketch at July 24th, or the middle of summer.

If we understand that, how can a professional astronomer have sketched Draco as it would appear if it were late October? Also, the position is incorrect; it's off by about 27 degrees from any known point during the viewing year in the northern hemisphere.

Basically, this means that the planet moved

(Ok, talk amongst yourselves!)

My theory goes one step further or maybe a different angle from Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six.

With Man the culprit of Global Warming being the fad of the day my theory goes along the line of extreme eco terrorism. Most of the hard core ELF/ALF or Sierra Club members, those that actually believe man is all the problem, are behind the fall. With members spread threwout the world working together in even higher areas of government they us something biological, viral, combined with the EMP to render technology useless, to take mankind down. The only problem is threwout history there has been certain biological viruses and disease that just plain don't effect certain people. This certain small percentage of people survive. These are the kinds of people you never see sick, are very fit, healthy, and seem to live long lives.

How did they spread a biological virus? Our water supplies or airborne distritbution before the EMP was set off. The could have used a huge, world wide event like the Olympics to start spreading the virus. Release it there and it spreads to all countries, after a few weeks, everyone has coughed on everyone then it takes affect. The virus reacted possibly to the electromagnetic burst, turning people into toastys maybe. Kind of like a viral molatof cocktail waiting for a trigger mechanism.

Why weren't animals affected? Because they are eco-freaks, they love the animals more then man so they made a virus that only affects man.

Why the EMP? Because those that are extreme have this whole Ghia theory that the earth needs saving so taking down technology will help her live.

Where are these eco freaks now? Seattle of course. Before the fall they all quietly moved into the area and now are compounded up, waiting for man to kill the last of themselves off hopefully. They are keeping a low profile because if it was found they did this hell would come down on them.

The other groups theorizing will combine theories, figure this out, and they will reign the hell down. Russ smack dab in the middle because at the end, he is in Seattle looking for his family. I'm thinking a final battle like in "Children of Men".

Heck, maybe his wifes involved. Pissed Russ is always off selling technology instead of being home.

I know my theory has holes in it, I have been expanding and thinking how it would actually work but I just wanted to place it here for your discussion or thoughts.