[Benjamin]

Humans have less than 1000 years on Earth before we are wiped out in a mass extinction.

This grim outlook was delivered by Professor Stephen Hawking during a speech addressing the universe and the origins of humans at Oxford Union.

The leading theoretical physicist said the only way for humankind to avoid the very real possibility of extinction was to find another planet to inhabit.

"We must also continue to go into space for the future of humanity," he said.

"I don't think we will survive another 1000 without escaping beyond our fragile planet."

This bleak outlook on the humanity is nothing new for the 74-year-old, who earlier this year predicted technology would lead Earth to a virtually inevitable global cataclysm.


"We face a number of threats to our survival from nuclear war, catastrophic global warming, and genetically engineered viruses," he said in January.

"The number is likely to increase in the future, with the development of new technologies, and new ways things can go wrong. Although the chance of a disaster to planet Earth in a given year may be quite low, it adds up over time."

Prof Hawking added that finding another planet was the only chance of survival.

"[We] have spread out into space, and to other stars, so a disaster on Earth would not mean the end of the human race," he said.

"However, we will not establish self-sustaining colonies in space for at least the next hundred years, so we have to be very careful in this period."

"I believe there is no deep difference between what can be achieved by a biological brain and what can be achieved by a computer," he said.

"It therefore follows that computers can, in theory, emulate human intelligence - and exceed it."

While admitting AI could be the biggest event in the history of our civilisation, he said it wasn't without risks.

"[AI] could develop a will of its own - a will that is in conflict with ours," he said.

"In short, the rise of powerful AI will be either the best, or the worst thing, ever to happen to humanity."

Despite frequently suggesting the worst case scenario, the world famous cosmologist ended his most recent talk with a call for optimism and intellectual curiosity.

"Remember to look up at the stars and not down at your feet. Try to make sense of what you see, wonder about what makes the universe exist. Be curious," he said

"However difficult life may seem, there is always something you can do and succeed at. It matters that you don't just give up."

Since 2009, NASA has been working to discover Earth-like planets in the habitable zone - the region around a star in which the surface temperature of an orbiting planet might support water.

The telescope has since confirmed the discovery of more than 1000 planets, with another 3000 "planet candidates" waiting to have their existence confirmed.

"The first exoplanet orbiting another star like our sun was discovered in 1995," NASA said in a statement.

"Exoplanets, especially small Earth-size worlds, belonged within the realm of science fiction just 21 years ago.

"Today, and thousands of discoveries later, astronomers are on the cusp of finding something people have dreamt about for thousands of years."

In August, a team of astronomers announced the discovery of the nearest exoplanet to our own solar system.

Dubbed Proxima b, the planet orbits the star Proxima Centauriand and is only a little more than four light years away from our sun.

British researcher Nick Pope said the development was a game-changer.

"This game-changing discovery may help us answer the question of whether or not we're alone in the universe - one of the biggest and most profound questions we can ask," he said.

"Many people believe there are aliens out there and now it's possible that they're our galactic next door neighbours.

"Every effort should be made not just to find out more about this planet, but to look for evidence of life - and maybe even intelligent life."

Despite being Earth's closest neighbour, it would take 76,000 years to get reach using current rocket technology.

However, there is hope that new technology currently under development could allow us to send a robotic probe to the planet in about 25 years.

In the meantime we just have to hope Prof Hawking's prediction doesn't come to fruition.

http://m.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/a...ectid=11749432

[Benjamin]

Also I know its rare I post in SD, but I usually stick to topics I care have care about, this being one of them.

[Cherie]

Jus as well you are heading for 40 Ben


It's exciting to think there might be others out there

[Cherie]

Originally Posted by Benjamin

Also I know its rare I post in SD, but I usually stick to topics I care have care about, this being one of them.

No need to make excuses we are open to all, especially Kizzy

[Benjamin]

I wish I could survive long enough to see us try and progress. I want to know how our story continues, if it does.

[Brillopad]

If and when, I feel sorry for those there at the end - terrifying.

[arista]

Originally Posted by Benjamin

Also I know its rare I post in SD, but I usually stick to topics I care have care about, this being one of them.

Ben , honey
that s just one view


There are Others the give the World far longer


You can not Stop China Growing
I mean alot of orders come from their by fast plane
as well as few days fast Massive Liner

[arista]

Its Good Ben in NZ
as he gets a Good Roast Dinner
and can see the new wave energy
like in Swansea

[Northern Monkey]

Originally Posted by Benjamin

I wish I could survive long enough to see us try and progress. I want to know how our story continues, if it does.

Me too!I love this stuff.I think the best we will see in our lifetime is humans on Mars.
That is our next stepping stone into the universe,We can eventually make it a base and launch missions from there.If Mars could be terraformed then it could be a home until we move on.Technology maybe a catalyst toward the destruction of our own planet but it is necessary for the survival of our species.Afterall we could be wiped out by an asteroid at any time.
I believe there are more advanced civilisations out there who may have inhabited numerous planets already.Civilisations who have been developing for billions of years before our solar system came into existence.Space travel is the most important technology we need to be developing and should be heavily funded.Even with green technologies prolonging our planet for a while they are only short term.

[Northern Monkey]

I'll link this thread to this http://www.thisisbigbrother.com/foru...d.php?t=311765 as there are some interesting vids on Mars missions on there.

[Redway]

I wouldn't believe everything you see.

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by Redway

I wouldn't believe everything you see.

Expand?

[UserSince2005]

guess he is as stupid as he looks.

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by UserSince2005

guess he is as stupid as he looks.

Stephen Hawking?

[Kizzy]

Is anyone surprised?... :/

[user104658]

There's a bit of a catch 22 here, though.

We realistically aren't going to be able to colonise other planets without being able to terraform them, to adapt their climates and living conditions to suit human life. But then, if we have the tech to completely terraform other worlds... The same tech could be used to alter Earth and halt / reverse climate change.

[Jack_]

[Northern Monkey]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

There's a bit of a catch 22 here, though.

We realistically aren't going to be able to colonise other planets without being able to terraform them, to adapt their climates and living conditions to suit human life. But then, if we have the tech to completely terraform other worlds... The same tech could be used to alter Earth and halt / reverse climate change.

Unless we have totally sheltered cities and or space stations that can support life for long periods of time and a means of creating oxygen and simulating gravity .Some scientists think that water could be extracted from the poles of Mars and there's also some who want to mine asteroids.Plants could create oxygen and i think they are trying to grow them on the ISS iirc.
Earth won't last forever and we could be hit by an untracked asteroid at any time.
It would certainly be fun on Mars.You can jump huge distances.NASA don't yet know the effect Mars gravity would have on the human body over a lifetime.They know that zero gravity is not good for us but somewhere inbetween like Mars is totally unknown and it could be ok for us.It would certainly be better than zero gravity for sure.

[Cal.]

Obviously humans are trash and I've seen a speech by someone literally calling humans a virus to Earth and it was so true. I hope we die out (after I'm gone x) so the animals can thrive in peace.

[Saph]

[MB.]

Finally, some good news

[Smithy]

Idc I'll be dead by then anyway

[Benjamin]

Originally Posted by Niamh.

Stephen Hawking?

[kirklancaster]

This is a brilliant and fascinating thread topic Benjamin.

One of the biggest regrets that I have about knowing I have to die - after the obvious ones concerning leaving family and loved ones - is that I will not be around to witness all the truly great discoveries which are going to be made in Archeology and Space and Technology.

I definitely and fervently believe that both Archeological AND Space discoveries in the future WILL help answer the questions of man's origins and why he is here, and I wish that I could be here to thrill to them.

Alas, at 102 years of age, that possibility is a very remote one.

[Tom4784]

Meh, that's my great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great grandkids' problem.