Future of humanity uncertain from "summary" of Brief Answers to the Big Questions by Stephen Hawking
The future of humanity is uncertain. We have made remarkable progress in science and technology, but there are also grave dangers. Our population and our use of the finite resources of planet Earth are growing exponentially, along with our technical ability to change the environment for good or ill. Our genetic code still carries the selfish and aggressive instincts that were of survival advantage in the past. It will be difficult enough to avoid disaster in the next hundred years, let alone the next thousand or million. Our only chance of long-term survival is not to remain inward-looking on planet Earth, but to spread out into space. We have made remarkable progress in the last hundred years. But if we want to continue beyond the next hundred years, our future is in space. That is why I am in favor of manned, or should I say, personned space flight. The recent discovery of the accelerating expansion of the universe, driven by what is now called dark energy, has brought the future of the universe back into the center of theoretical physics. The cosmological constant, Lambda, which had been introduced by Einstein to explain why the universe is not collapsing under the pull of gravity, could also play the role of a repulsive force that drives the acceleration. In this way, Lambda could be the "energy of nothing," the energy stored in empty space. This energy would be very small, but because empty space weighs nothing, this energy could still have a large effect. The future of humanity is in space. But it is not just a matter of escaping the Earth. We need to go somewhere else in the solar system to ensure the survival of our species. In the long term, we need to reach out beyond our solar system to other stars. The question is: Can we do it? I believe we can. We are entering a new space age, which I call the second space age. The first space age was characterized by the Cold War and the Space Race. The second space age will be characterized by cooperation, rather than competition. In this new era, we will work together to explore and colonize other planets. We are living in a time of great uncertainty. But we have the power to shape our own destiny. By looking to the stars and working together, we can ensure the future of humanity. The future is uncertain, but it is up to us to make it bright.
Similar Posts
Science and technology revolutionized daily life
Science and technology have completely transformed the way people live their daily lives. Before these advancements, life was m...
Moon missions beckon
Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos are two of the most prominent figures in the space industry today, each with their own grand visions o...
Mission control communicates with astronauts through radio transmissions
Mission Control, situated in Houston, Texas, serves as the central hub for communication with astronauts aboard spacecraft. Thr...
Expanding our understanding of the cosmos through new paradigms
The journey of science is marked by the continual evolution of our understanding of the universe. From the ancient Greeks to th...
Theory of general relativity
The theory of general relativity, proposed by Albert Einstein in 1915, revolutionized our understanding of gravity. According t...
Our place in the universe is both insignificant and profound, a delicate balance of power and humility
In the vast expanse of the cosmos, our planet Earth is but a tiny speck of dust, a mere dot in the grand tapestry of the univer...