Extinction of the Human Race - Is Human Extinction Possible?
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Human extinction - could the human race become extinct?
In June 2010 a prominent scientist predicted the human race will be extinct within one hundred years. This shocking statement came from Australian scientist, Frank Fenner, but he is not the only one to believe the human race will become extinct. Human extinction, as fantastic as the idea sounds, is something pondered and expounded on by novelists, movie-makers, scientists of many varieties, and academics.
Why would this happen? How could it happen? And what would happen if it did become a reality? These are the questions I examined as I studied the condition of the world we live in.
The picture:
West, c. 1997
by Marlene Dumas
Buy at AllPosters.com
Who is Frank Fenner?
...and why should we care if he says humans will be extinct?
Frank John Fenner was born December 21, 1914 in Ballarat, in the state of Victoria, Australia. As a scientist in the field of virology he oversaw the eradication of smallpox. He also managed to control the Australian rabbit plague by using a myxoma virus to counteract it. He won the 2002 Prime Minister's Prize for Science, an Albert Einstein World Award of Science honor in 2000, and many other honors and medals. In 1973 he founded the Centre for Resources and Environmental Studies.
Sources:
Frank Fenner Wikipedia page
Sourcewatch page for Frank Fenner
Frank Fenner's page at the University of Australia
Frank Fenner's Facebook Fan Club
How could the human race go extinct?
...what are some of the possibilities?
Here are a few possibilities. There are many more.
1. Disease pandemics caused by antiviral resistant viruses or antibacterial resistant bacterium.
2. Warfare and the use of biological weapons.
3. Natural disasters such as comets or multiple volcanic eruptions.
4. Man-made disasters such as nuclear power plant accidents, grey goo incidents (nanotechnology), creation of a black hole on Earth during a scientific experiment.
5. Reproduction disasters such as infertility due to chemicals in the environment or biological changes.
Sources:
Human race will be extinct within 100 years, claims leading scientist
Ten Ways the Human Race Could Become Extinct
Human Extinction
Future Pundit on Human Extinction
Human Extinction Wikipedia Page
Do you believe this could happen?
...should we worry now? ...or later?!?!?
Do you believe the human race will become extinct? Why or why not?
Yes... it will probably happen.
OHNO2011 says:
3% Survival rate seems pretty definitive. There are always some, those who do not need electricity, microwaves...
spellbindingsisters says:
Once the world ends it is inevitable so yeah :)
Professor Emrys Myrddyn Ambrosius says:
Considering that it is estimated that 99.9 of all living things that have ever existed on earth are extinct, the chances of human being going that way are high. Also worthy of note; if through some statistical anomaly we don't go extinct, we should eventually evolve out of being what we would not consider to be homm-sapien. So either way our species as we know it, will end.
Anoop Kandel says:
i think it would because we are so haphazard in saving our greenery..as soon as the amount of carbon monoxide will surely increase in near future sooner than we expect...which will influence the higher rate of UV rays entering in earth that may cause devastating effect like skin cancer infertility and sterility in human beings that may, with no doubt, lead to decrease in reproduction capacity of human...and other effects like disturbance in Eco-system, that may lead to decrement in bio-mass production.....so other than mythical prophecies i believe in scientific reasons n understandings i believe sooner or later we r expected to pave our way to extinction...so lets preserve our greenery,.. let's revolt against the exploitation of natural resources n forest in the name of development...we dont want world without oxygen...lets revolt worldwide brothers......n ...sisters..who r concerned to save the world...but honestly i believe in BIBLE too....:)
Debbie Jackson says:
Yes, When Jesus returns. Definitely we will be extinct from earth. . .
Tiggered says:
Sooner or later :) We're getting boring and predictable anyway :)
lovinight says:
God I just hope we leave some other species left to enjoy the peace and quiet. Humans are the worst thing that ever happened to this planet and it's magnificent creatures, people just don't get it!
Tiggered says:
It will, sooner or later. Look what happened to poor T-Rex... But maybe not within next 100 years
chad m says:
if i were an alien and saw the disruction caused humanity id consider humanity a threat to the universe
VickiSims says:
The sun will eventually die, so yes eventually we will become extinct unless as a species we colonize another planet in another solar system. Of course it could come much sooner under some of the scenarios listed above.
Deborah Porter says:
Yes
E. Bales says:
Yes, viruses cannot be cured and already we see an AIDS epidemic. Plus, the damage we have done to the environment with chemicals and toxins in our water and radiation will only result in more loss of human life and animal life, and has already resulted in pollutions of our oceans with the coral reefs dying off. When this happens, it will effect sea life like a domino effect, which in turn will effect humans for the sea if rich for food sources that will not longer be there.
No amount of money can buy someone food to eat, if there is no food left that has not been contaminated with nuclear fall out. Everyone has nuclear power and it only takes one nut to start the ball rolling. It will wipe out most of the population and cancer will be widespread.
words says:
I am a fictional author - a few best seller's. I hope there are a handful of us out there who see and understand what needs to change. Those of you who may read this small blurb? We are not suppose to be about $ the human condition is here to create, live life to it's fullest, share and be there for one another. I hope this does not happen, what a waste of natural and magnificent beauty we do not know of ourselves.
emmalarkins says:
Well, every species goes extinct eventually, or else eventually evolves into a new species. I certainly hope it doesn't happen within 100 years, though!
Not likely at all. (At least, I sure hope not!)
Ollie Bourque says:
I say no. If you are so concerned, buy something on time, you'll never have to make payments in 2013.
tatiana 7th grader says:
not, because of the statics of a baby;child being born every few seconds,but it may be come possible and it may not but i also think the gov is bogus and need to tell the truth about Dec 21 2012 it only 2 days after my birthday and if its true i might just stay in chruch for those 48 hours with my family but like its proven "no one really knows when the world would end but the man upstairs;GOD...
Amitabh says:
human madness will possibly do this but not in near future.
John Dahik says:
It is not clear from my point of view. Everybody these days seems to live in fear and believe b.s. myths that the world will end in another year. Honestly, you people: It's like Y2K all over again so stop believing pointless crap!
spirituality says:
We're like weed - we may loose the Internet, money economy, half the human population, but all of us gone? Not for a long while yet.
Flynn_the_Cat says:
nah. Humans are cockroaches. I believe we're perfectly capable of wiping out the majority of the population, by accident or design, but the worse matters get, the more money/ingenuity a small section of the population will pour into escape rockets/bunkers/cures.
0ctavias0fferings says:
It is unlikely the human race will become extinct in the next 100 years but, between one thing and another, it is perfectly possible that we could become an endangered species.
The End of the World: The Science and Ethics of Human Extinction
by John Leslie
Interesting, isn't it, how people think that human extinction would be the end of the world? I believe the world would continue without humans being on this planet. It would only be the end of the world, or this dimension of the world, for humans.
The End of the World: The Science and Ethics of Human Extinction
Amazon Price: $3.00 (as of 05/31/2012)
This is the most popular book at Amazon on this topic.
The Voluntary Extinction Movement
...sounds crazy, but they're out there!
This is a very serious movement of people who believe the planet would be better off without humans. Those who support the movement help by not "breeding".
Source: The Voluntary Extinction Movement
A Voluntary Extinction Poster
...how do you feel about this?
A poster from the voluntary extinction movement - it shows how deeply they feel about ending the human race!
Where are you on the scale above?
...how deep is your eco-depth?
"It is a curious feature of our existence that we come from a planet that is very good at promoting life but even better at extinguishing it."
-- Bill Bryson, from his book, "A Short History of Nearly Everything"
A Short History of Nearly Everything
...by Bill Bryson
A Short History of Nearly Everything: Special Illustrated Edition
Amazon Price: $17.17 (as of 05/30/2012)
What would happen to the Earth
...if there were no people?
I have not accepted that this will happen. Doomsday prophecies have been getting our attention for eons... and how likely is it, really? But the topic of the future of the planet if there were no people has been studied. The movie below is one I've watched. It shows the gradual changes and how long it would take for nature to erase signs of human presence.
The most surprising, for me, was that roadways would be covered over by vegetation in only a few short years. Other structures we think are invincible would decay depending on the weather, mainly. We're not necessarily here to stay! And many ancient developed civilizations could have been on this planet in the past, and how would we know because all signs of them could have been obliterated.
Life After People
...the History Channel special...
Life After People (History Channel)
Amazon Price: $3.79 (as of 05/30/2012)
Make a prediction about human extinction...
...what do you think might happen?
AmericanCitizen predicts:
I predict that the human race will be diminshed, but not entirely wiped out.
TheAnoopkandel predicts:
for sure within 50 years 2/3 of the world population will diminished not all...
Anoop Kandel predicts:
yep since i'm follower of bible unlike those who do not follow...since science have also given emphasis to this...i want All of you guys to read what i have found from NASA...please add me as An Up Candle..n u can read Wat NASA said abt the prophecy...
Edutopia predicts:
Over the next 100 years humans will radically alter the way they produce and consume the nutrients needed to survive pushing the global population cap ever upwards until this driving force is met with cheap economies of scale to move percentages of the population off the planet for permanent relocation on celestial bodies.
Tiggered predicts:
A meteor! Or Yellowstone going off?? A war? There IS too many of us and nature regulates itself. A fact of life. Wave to all the doomsayers :)
seegreen predicts:
If we continue to destroy our environment the earth will not be able to support us and many people will not survive. Continuing down the path that we are on will create more suffering unless we focus on sustainability.
spirituality predicts:
I predict humanity will keep growing for the next hundred years or so.
0ctavias0fferings predicts:
I totally agree with your prediction. Various circumstances over the next few centuries will probably see quite a dramatic reduction in the numbers of people on the planet but, with any luck, by that time those who are left will have learned to get allong. Our similarities are far greater and more enduring than our differences.
How worried are you?
...on a scale of 1 to 10?
Reference links
..fyi
- Doomsday scenarios: is humanity prepared for the worst? | Science | The Observer
- Ian Sample asks how scientists plan for global catastrophes
- Pandemics
- Wikipedia page.
- End of the World: 10 Disasters That Could End It All At Any Given Second - Best of the Web Directory
- Lots to worry about...
- Armageddon Online
- A site devoted to disasters...
Your comments are welcome
...as always.
I look forward to your feedback.
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Edutopia
Jan 2, 2012 @ 4:53 am | delete
- There is no way within the laws of physics and thermodynamics that would make a nuclear plant meltdown make humans extinct. Even if all nuclear plants in operation right now melted down in unison in the most destructive way possible humans would still be far from extinct.
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TheAnoopkandel
Feb 22, 2012 @ 2:49 pm | delete
- may be the nuclear meltdown not fully xtinct us but there other facts such as... may u r unaware of the UV rays extremity on earth...may be u have not experienced the gradual DE-positioning of climate change...may be u r unaware of the amount of CO on earth n may be the on the increment of temperature...n may be u have not seen 1800 miles length n 16 miles width rupture on antarctic region n the ice cap DE-formation on arctic circle...i think these r sufficient on our extinction..so lets ignoring these facts but let us revolt against degradation of greenery in the name of development....lets unite for this friends..
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seegreen
Feb 26, 2011 @ 4:29 pm | delete
- Great topic! I'm not concerned about Human extinction, but I am concerned about needless human suffering and over-population. I hope things don't have to get too extreme before the majority of the world acts. Unfortunately, things are already extreme in many parts of the world. Too many people expect someone else to do something.
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VickiSims
Dec 26, 2010 @ 4:12 pm | delete
- A very thought-provoking lens. Blessed by a SquidAngel
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emmalarkins
Oct 2, 2010 @ 6:07 pm | delete
- Very interesting comment to explore!
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by AmericanCitizen
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Earth Abides
by George Stewart
Earth Abides
Amazon Price: $7.92 (as of 05/30/2012)
Fiction. Humanity is wiped out by a virus, but a few humans survive. One of the best novels I've ever read... in fact, I read it twice.
Gas Mask
...you may someday need this!
Gas Mask Civilian Model Nuclear Biological Chemical
Amazon Price: $19.79 (as of 05/30/2012)
Seems unlikely, but who knows? Maybe someday this will save your life, or the life of someone you care about.
Food Storage Bags
...for oxygen absorption
20 - 1 Gallon (10"x14") Mylar Bags & 20 - 300cc OxyFree Oxygen Absorbers For Dried Dehydrated and Long Term Food Storage
Amazon Price: $11.00 (as of 05/30/2012)
Keep your stored food in good condition!
