Hawking: It's outer space or die for humans
Summary
Stephen Hawking says he's an optimist. Perhaps theoretical physicists have an idiosyncratic definition of the word.
Topics
Stephen Hawking says he's an optimist. Perhaps theoretical physicists have an idiosyncratic definition of the word.
For in an interview with BigThink, Hawking suggested that unless the human race begins to inhabit outer space, it will disappear. His tinge of optimism is painted in quite muted colors. "If we can avoid disaster for the next two centuries, our species should be safe as we spread into space," he told BigThink.
Hawking is worried about the way humans are eating up finite resources and commented that our genetic code "carries selfish and aggressive instincts," which have helped humanity survive so often in times gone by.For more of this story, read Hawking: It's outer space or die for humans on CNET News.
Talkback Most Recent of 70 Talkback(s)
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Let's get earth right first!
As much as I believe in space travel I think it would be a shame if we took our destructive ways to another planet to muck up! Let's get earth right first. How about cleaning the atmosphere up from all that space debris we have left floating around!
tonyhunterajh9th Aug 2010 -
RE: Hawking: It's outer space or die for humans
@tonyhunterajh Well said ! We make a mess of earth as it is. Why should we bring troubles to outer space !?
TxM2xTx9th Aug 2010 -
RE: Hawking: It's outer space or die for humans
@TxM2xTx "Bring troubles to outer space"? Do you have any idea how vast space is? On our worst day, our troubles wouldn't even register on a galactic level, much less a universal one. Hell, if we somehow managed to destroy the entire solar system (ridiculous) that still wouldn't even be a blip.
And the fact that we make a mess here is precisely why we need to expand. The reason we make a mess here are there are just far too many people in far too confined of a space. It's like trying to raise 4 kids in a 600 sq. ft. apartment: the place will constantly be a disaster area no matter what you do. Move that same family into a 3000 sq. ft. house and it's possible to at least keep most of it nice (maybe not the kids' rooms, but hey).
2drinks9th Aug 2010 -
RE: Hawking: It's outer space or die for humans
Sure, we can envision mankind polluting space, but imagine if you had a truly self-sufficient space station. Wouldn't they also be the absolute best at recycling water, carbon, oxygen, and many of our "essentials?"
dedrizen9th Aug 2010 -
RE: Hawking: It's outer space or die for humans
@TxM2xTx
It is not the intelligent folks that are crapping on earth
mike_buckley@...9th Aug 2010 -
RE: Hawking: It's outer space or die for humans
@2drinks
The notion that more space is needed by people is ridiculous.
Growing up I lived in a studio apartment in NYC with my family (4 kids, 1 mom, 1 dog, it was tight yeah but we managed) and we kept it decently clean. It comes down to "parenting" of kids/people and learning to utilize space and live efficiently. The studio apartment worked for us, we all had to contribute and do our part.
Giving people expanded space will likely result in excess waste.
tjrchka9th Aug 2010 -
RE: Hawking: It's outer space or die for humans
@TxM2xTx
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ajhcwsklob8th Sep -
RE: Hawking: It's outer space or die for humans
@tonyhunterajh
Sir
I have always felt that the smart animals on this planet should migrate to space first. The dumb ones will never get it.
Mikemike_buckley@...9th Aug 2010 -
RE: Hawking: It's outer space or die for humans
@mike_buckley@... Smart people cannot live in isolation from dumb ones. Somebody has to take the trash and clean the sewers
JonWayn9th Aug 2010 -
RE: Hawking: It's outer space or die for humans
@JonWayn
Even your so-called "smart people" can lift a trash can and use a toilet brush.
David A. Pimentel10th Aug 2010 -
RE: Hawking: It's outer space or die for humans
@tonyhunterajh Who would we be hurting if we inhabited one of the billions of uninhabitted planets that are just sitting out there doing nothing? If we have figured out a way to change our ways of living that is cleaner, and its the expense of starting over that is keeping us from change, then why not start over at a different place from scratch with this new idea? I dont get your pointJonWayn9th Aug 2010 -
RE: Hawking: It's outer space or die for humans
@tonyhunterajh
perhaps this why are creator made the rules as he did, so we will not be able to take our rebellion into space, read the first chapter of Job where it talks of a gathering of Angels that both God and Satan attended before Satan was given the power to test Job
7trumpets10th Aug 2010 -
RE: Hawking: It's outer space or die for humans
@tonyhunterajh
Reminds me of a bumper sticker:
"Earth First, We'll log all the other planets later!"
Boomslang11th Aug 2010 -
Does it matter?
Since we have no defined purpose in the Universe, does our "departure" as a species really mean anything?
trickytom29th Aug 2010 -
It only means something if you're interested in
@trickytom2
keeping the human species going.
youzer9th Aug 2010
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