Evolution...?

[Boneasse]

So Earth has been around for a pretty long time, yea? Scientists and other good folk have traced the evolution of man, among other things, back to several millenia ago.

Whether primates were our ancestors or not, or we came from the sea originally, humankind has evolved through the times and will (if we don't destroy our planet) continue to do so. But we're not perfect, and it has been a while since we last evolved.

So I pose this question, to you, my fellow Escapists;

What do you think will be the next step in the human evolution, and when will it happen?
[sub]Take a guess or give us some scientific mumbo-jumbo! Throw it out here.[/sub]

Edit: Can't be bothered to be scientific? Then just post what you think would be cool! That'll work too.

 

[RobCoxxy]

Probably something like longer lifespans, nothing huge like wings. *sigh* Unfortunately.

 

[kebab4you]

Born without the pinky toe, no tail bone and no appendicitis. And most likely more evolved brain.
Edit; oh, next step? not stuff to come, then I will have to go with; more evolved brain, and that alone.

 

[NeedAUserName]

We won't evolve anymore. We've reached a point were instead of adapting to our surroundings, our surroundings adapt to us.

 

[Popadoo]

Let's admit it. Idiots get more sex. It's why Jersey Shore is so popular. But it can't go on, or in millions of yeas all that will be left of mankind will be douche bags with fake tan on.

 

[subject_87]

I'm hoping for flight and/or psychic powers, but we may need a questionably ethical biotech mega-corporation to start down that path.

 

[Harlemura]

Be something fish-related. Gills or mermaid-like tails is my guess.
Gotta account for the rising sea levels one way or another. Of course, it'll only be the poor folk that can't afford boats that'll evolve as such. Then the fish people will eventually set out to overthrow the boat dwellers and-
Whoops. Sorry, let my imagination off its lead for a second there.

 

[gunheads]

Probably due to a massive population and the increasing motivation of working together, I think something like a mental link, Like a chain linking the brains together, a human network if you will, Also, as proven a longer life span and taller, more lithe frame.

 

[The Salty Vulcan]

Let's admit it. Idiots get more sex. It's why Jersey Shore is so popular. But it can't go on, or in millions of yeas all that will be left of mankind will be douche bags with fake tan on.

fake tan? In a million years, human beings will be naturally orange.

 

[Talpidae]

Yeah, I'll have to agree. We're doing pretty well as is, so it's unlikely that any major change would be brought about by evolution, but if nature won't give me wings then I really hope that science and technology will because I want my wings.

 

[Hiikuro]

Considering the modern pressure of intelligence, I think that it will be the most significant thing to improve.

I suspect humans will devolve their immune systems, considering how much we use medicine as crutches.

Other than that I really can't think of anything.

 

[Drummodino]

I believe that humans have almost completely stopped evolving to be honest. The principle of evolution was the survival of the fittest - aka those species best suited or able to adapt to the conditions they lived in would prosper. However we no longer have to do this because instead of changing to suit the environment we now adapt the environment to us (eg. temperature control, medicine).

 

[royohz]

1. We are all under constant evolution, we have evolved a lot since the human fossils, but it took a very, very long time. So the next step in human evolution is every single generation.

2. There is no goal in evolution, hence is no perfection possible.

3. We did descend from primates (not monkeys, we share a common ancestor), and they evolved from mammals that originally came from the sea.

 

[Palademon]

We won't evolve anymore. We've reached a point were instead of adapting to our surroundings, our surroundings adapt to us.

I understand that point, but I thought evolution was merely random changes over time that later carry on or die out. So I guess we would continue to evolve but since it probably wouldn't make us more likely to die then we'd reach a point of a lot of diversity.

 

[rokkolpo]

We won't evolve anymore. We've reached a point were instead of adapting to our surroundings, our surroundings adapt to us.

Exactly.

Evolution occurs when it is necessary.

 

[Sam Eskenazi]

There is speculation that mankind will struggle to evolve now that we exist in a fully self-aware state; malformations or just anything different in a child these days is considered either treatable or something wrong with them. It kinda seems to be all about the norm in terms of evolution. No scientific basis whatsoever on these claims, so please do correct me so I may learn.

 

[Glademaster_v1legacy]

Longer life spans people will develop like ants given how some focus on intellect while others on physical. So some basially something like the bad guys from the movie Time Machine.

 

[Wicky_42]

Bring on genetic modification! With all our healthcare and titanic genepool, I reckon the next serious changes to our genome are going to be artificial. There's just no real evolutionary pressure on our species otherwise.

Lets think:
age - old people don't make babies
no pinky - would you prefer someone with 4 digits on their feet rather than 5?
tail bone - why would having no tail bone be a positive aspect for procreation?
appendix - healthcare deals with anyone with appendicitis, so there's no evolutionary pressure there.
psychic powers - erm, actually, that could work. I guess... social complications would be a factor.

 

[Boneasse]

3. We did descend from primates (not monkeys, we share a common ancestor), and they evolved from mammals that originally came from the sea.

Yeah, I'm just posing it as a possibility (and not fact) because I don't want to start a science vs. religion thread. Stranger things have happened, after all.