Hawking: Space key to human survival
HONG KONG, China (AP) — The survival of the human race depends on its ability to find new homes elsewhere in the universe because there’s an increasing risk that a disaster will destroy Earth, world-renowned physicist Stephen Hawking said.
Humans could have a permanent base on the moon in 20 years and a colony on Mars in the next 40 years, the British scientist told a news conference.
“We won’t find anywhere as nice as Earth unless we go to another star system,” added Hawking, who came to Hong Kong to a rock star’s welcome Monday. Tickets for his lecture Thursday were sold out.
Hawking said that if humans can avoid killing themselves in the next 100 years, they should have space settlements that can continue without support from Earth.
“It is important for the human race to spread out into space for the survival of the species,” Hawking said. “Life on Earth is at the ever-increasing risk of being wiped out by a disaster, such as sudden global warming, nuclear war, a genetically engineered virus or other dangers we have not yet thought of.”
Is it possible that humans could be wiped out? I suppose so, but I don’t make myself crazy with fear about it. But I suppose that it never hurts to be prepared. And so begins the race for the next place to fight over.
Jack's Shack June 16, 2006 at 7:08 am
Jameel,
Hoth is a little cold for my taste.
JA,
True, but I am not going to worry about it.
Jewish Atheist June 15, 2006 at 4:51 pm
jack:
An asteroid could conceivably wipe us out at pretty much any time, too. 🙂 Just to cheer you up.
Jameel June 15, 2006 at 3:04 pm
Jack: Hoth would be a cool place to go…
Jack's Shack June 15, 2006 at 2:45 pm
The sun will go out and long, long, long after that, the universe will be so spread out that there isn’t enough usable energy anywhere to sustain life.
JA,
True, but the most pessimistic of scientists places the death of the universe in terms that boggle the mind. This is not something that any of our great-great-great-great-great grandchildren will worry about.
Of course I hope that there is nothing that happens on Earth in the next million years or so either.
Jewish Atheist June 15, 2006 at 2:08 pm
Is it possible that humans could be wiped out?
It happened to the dinosaurs.
In the long-term, of course, humanity will die as inevitably as each of us will. The sun will go out and long, long, long after that, the universe will be so spread out that there isn’t enough usable energy anywhere to sustain life.
Unless God saves us, of course.