I thought the forums could use a little gloom, so lets discuss when we believe the human race will become extinct(if at all). *Following is stolen from Wikipedia*
Severe forms of known or recorded disasters
Warfare, whether nuclear or biological, or conventional (although nuclear weapons and biological agents are likely to be used); see World War III.
Pandemic involving an antibiotic-resistant bacterium, antifungal-resistant fungus, prion, or antiviral-resistant virus. In practical terms this is unlikely as not all individuals and communities are likely to be exposed to a disease, and not all individuals die when exposed to infections.
Environmental collapses
Loss of a breathable atmosphere, for example due to an anoxic event.
Occurrence of a large-scale volcanism, possibly a supervolcano (250 million years ago, after the Permian-Triassic extinction event life on land took 30 million years to recover).[1]
Extreme ice age leading to prolonged global drought. An ice age can be a result of a nuclear winter or natural forces.
Loss of natural resources, such as mass deforestation or contamination of all fresh water.
Long-term habitat threats
Within a million years, the hypergiant Eta Carinae, which is 7500 light years from the Sun, may go hypernova.
In 1.4 million years Gliese 710 will be only 1.1 light years from Earth and might catastrophically perturb the Oort cloud, possibly resulting in a comet shower.
In about 3 billion years, our Milky Way galaxy is expected to collide with the Andromeda galaxy. Collisions of individual bodies will likely be scarce; however, the consequences for orbits of stars and planets are unclear, and impossible to predict for individual stellar systems.
In 5 billion years hence the Sun's stellar evolution will reach the red giant stage, in which it will expand and possibly engulf Earth. But before this happens it will already have changed Earth's climate and its radiated spectrum may alter in ways Earth-bound humans could not survive.
*Stolen from Wikipedia*
So, many options for ending human life, what do you feel is going to cause the demise of our race? Or do you believe we'll survive for eternity. Imagine, we survive the eventual destruction of Earth, by moving to another planet or moon, we survive the dangers of long term space travel, we witness the destruction of The Milky Way, and many other galaxies. Could we survive after the depletion of all hydrogen atoms from the universe?
I'll save my opinion till I read some others, but I personally believe we're in it for the long haul.
Severe forms of known or recorded disasters
Warfare, whether nuclear or biological, or conventional (although nuclear weapons and biological agents are likely to be used); see World War III.
Pandemic involving an antibiotic-resistant bacterium, antifungal-resistant fungus, prion, or antiviral-resistant virus. In practical terms this is unlikely as not all individuals and communities are likely to be exposed to a disease, and not all individuals die when exposed to infections.
Environmental collapses
Loss of a breathable atmosphere, for example due to an anoxic event.
Occurrence of a large-scale volcanism, possibly a supervolcano (250 million years ago, after the Permian-Triassic extinction event life on land took 30 million years to recover).[1]
Extreme ice age leading to prolonged global drought. An ice age can be a result of a nuclear winter or natural forces.
Loss of natural resources, such as mass deforestation or contamination of all fresh water.
Long-term habitat threats
Within a million years, the hypergiant Eta Carinae, which is 7500 light years from the Sun, may go hypernova.
In 1.4 million years Gliese 710 will be only 1.1 light years from Earth and might catastrophically perturb the Oort cloud, possibly resulting in a comet shower.
In about 3 billion years, our Milky Way galaxy is expected to collide with the Andromeda galaxy. Collisions of individual bodies will likely be scarce; however, the consequences for orbits of stars and planets are unclear, and impossible to predict for individual stellar systems.
In 5 billion years hence the Sun's stellar evolution will reach the red giant stage, in which it will expand and possibly engulf Earth. But before this happens it will already have changed Earth's climate and its radiated spectrum may alter in ways Earth-bound humans could not survive.
*Stolen from Wikipedia*
So, many options for ending human life, what do you feel is going to cause the demise of our race? Or do you believe we'll survive for eternity. Imagine, we survive the eventual destruction of Earth, by moving to another planet or moon, we survive the dangers of long term space travel, we witness the destruction of The Milky Way, and many other galaxies. Could we survive after the depletion of all hydrogen atoms from the universe?
I'll save my opinion till I read some others, but I personally believe we're in it for the long haul.
