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Topic: Social Enterprise

Superhumans, dead worlds, and the fate of the universe in pictures

Summary: Forget your Facebook timeline, see what's in store for humanity and the universe in the near and far future.

Chris Jablonski

By Chris Jablonski |

 |  Image 1 of 30

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change releases its Fifth Assessment Report which concludes that humanity is on a path to self destruction and is rapidly running out of time. Despite these warnings, and a broad scientific consensus, much of the public remains skeptical about global warming. Get more details at FutureTimeline.net.  

Photo credit: FutureTimeline.net

Supporting post: Massive timeline of future history (photos)

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Topic: Social Enterprise

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43 comments
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  • Why The Public Remains Skeptical

    The public remains skeptical because they can recognize BS. When they see political payoffs like Solyndra and other questionable government grants and loans, scientists acting more like witch doctors threatening curses from on high upon the tribe than actual scientists and celebs and politicians being major league hypocrites it's clear that something isn't right and it's not the climate.
    ancientprogrammer
    Reply Vote

    • RE: Superhumans, dead worlds, and the fate of the universe in pictures

      @ancientprogrammer

      Gee, you haven't been outside lately have you?
      NoAxToGrind
      Reply Vote

      • RE: Superhumans, dead worlds, and the fate of the universe in pictures

        @NoAxToGrind

        Nothing that has happened thus far with regard to climate change is anything you could perceive "by going outside." The changes are very subtle.
        Schoolboy Bob
        Reply Vote

      • RE: Superhumans, dead worlds, and the fate of the universe in pictures

        @NoAxToGrind - That's exactly the kind of unscientific observations I was referring to. It's too hot. Must be climate change. Too cold. Climate change. Bad weather. Climate change. Good weather. Climate change.
        ancientprogrammer
        Reply Vote

      • RE: Superhumans, dead worlds, and the fate of the universe in pictures

        @NoAxToGrind<br><br>Climate change is a measured phenomenon. It's not a religion. If a person could himself/herself personally perceive a GLOBAL AVERAGE increase in temperature by 1 degree for every 10 years, that person would be an amazingly gifted and unusual individual. OF COURSE you can't see it for yourself. That's why we use carefully calibrated instruments in various parts of the world to take measurements over long periods of time. We live in a great and free country so you may choose not to believe in scientific observations. Make no mistake though. Climate change isn't any more of a religion than believing the world is round, and is no more of an opinion than observing that rain is wet.
        DDXDavid
        Reply Vote

    • RE: Superhumans, dead worlds, and the fate of the universe in pictures

      @ancientprogrammer
      ...yes, yes-- it's all a conspiracy -- you're an intelligent fellow, read between the lines. The south western U.S. is returning to desert, Manhattan size pieces of ice separate from the Antarctica with regularity, increasing ocean water levels are encroaching on low lying areas, decreasing salinity within the Atlantic ocean affecting gulf stream circulation and European climate, widespread and unprecedented forest fires in both the U.S and Europe, increased solar activity coupled with increased industrial CO2 accumulations, that our slowly disappearing forests mentioned above, are less able to sequester, carbonic acid acidification of oceans affecting pH sensitive flora and fauna. All of these are well documented and characterize the notion of a 'tipping point'.
      rparker2757
      Reply Vote

      • I do read

        When I do I find corporations and governments killing people in the name of "carbon offsets". I find people connected with it becoming quite wealthy spreading the fear and using intimidation to silence critics. I find more significant historical parallels between the religion of Scientarianism and the rise violent religious and political movements in the past.

        Yes, earth's climate is changing, it's always been changing. This is just like there have always been solar and lunar eclipses and religious figures and kings have used them to control their subjects.
        ancientprogrammer
        Reply Vote

    • RE: Superhumans, dead worlds, and the fate of the universe in pictures

      @ancientprogrammer <br><br>It's a scientific fact that the earth's weather does change, e.g., the last Great Ice Age. Whether it's caused by humans is subject to debate, many argue that were we are the cause. Maybe or maybe not. But the earth's weather does seem to be changing. The difference now is, there weren't 7 billion people when the last ice age occurred. That's the "new variable" at play here and if there are dramatic weather changes, there's likely to be people hurting. But then, what can we do? Since someone might label me as having some hidden agenda, I don't. The reality is, we're not likely to have a solution and those that "have" (whatever that currency might be in the future, e.g., land in a temperate climate) aren't going to just yield what they "have" to those who "don't have". What's that old saying... "Life's a b*tch".
      betelgeuse68
      Reply Vote

    • RE: Superhumans, dead worlds, and the fate of the universe in pictures

      @ancientprogrammer So speaketh another antiscience, clueless fool and likely Republican supporter. You obviously have Internet access, so what is your malfunction? The dog ate your keycaps? Google doesn't have a "Friggin Idiot" mode? Or what?
      JustCallMeBC
      Reply Vote

    • RE: Superhumans, dead worlds, and the fate of the universe in pictures

      @ancientprogrammer Can the public really recognize BS? The public happily swallows loads of BS all the time. People generally tend to believe whatever 'evidence' fits or supports their own personal bias or beliefs, and reject offhand that which is contrary. Or they believe what they 'intuitively' know to be 'right'. And are loathe to make a change if it is the least bit bothersome.
      Ever hear of the 'Monty Hall Dilemma'? A simple example of (most) peoples intuition and logic being dead wrong.
      Three doors; A, B, C.
      Behind one door is a car, the other two have goats.
      Pick a door (say A).
      Monty opens door C to show you it has goat.
      Monty offers to let you stay with door A, or switch to door B.
      What do you do? What are the odds of winning if you stay on door A? What are the odds if you switch to door B?
      (answer at the end of the post) :)

      Is climate change real? Is it man-made?
      The majority of credible information, from credible, seemingly unbiased sources across a plethora of fields, say it is likely to be true. Yes there is contrary opinion. Is there money to made? Of course. Just as there is money to be made by those denying it. The question is, what is the best course of action when facing this possible threat?
      A. Do nothing.
      B. Do something.

      Go with A?:
      1. If it turns out to NOT be a threat, A is a good choice. Doesn't cost us anything and life goes on. But we'd be betting our lives and future.
      2. If it is a threat, A is a bad choice. We're screwed.

      Go with B?:
      3. If it is a NOT a threat, B is a neutral choice. If we take mitigating steps, those steps might obscure whether it was a threat or not. We may never know for sure. In that scenario then yes, it cost money and effort, but we will be essentially taking out insurance against that threat. With (hopefully) the side-effect of improving our world. And likely with huge new economic developments.
      4. If it is threat, B is a good choice. We take steps to save ourselves.

      So A is either very risky or we're screwed. B is positive either way. Logically, I'd go with B.

      Speaking of logic...
      When Monty offers you the choice to switch, DO IT!
      Statistically, switching gives you a 2/3rds chance of winning the car. Staying with your original choice is a 1/3 chance of winning the car.
      The odds are NOT 50/50.
      At this point, the vast majority of people are going to disagree with me. That's OK. :)
      Look it up. Google "Monty Hall Dilemma".
      tkeller@...
      Reply Vote

    • RE: Superhumans, dead worlds, and the fate of the universe in pictures

      @ancientprogrammer

      99% of Scientists say Global Warming is real.
      50% of all politicians say it isn't.

      Who are you going to believe, half the politicians, or all of the scientists? I'm going with the scientists.
      michaellashinsky@...
      Reply Vote

  • RE: Superhumans, dead worlds, and the fate of the universe in pictures

    Malthus was wrong, so are these prognosticators. They are predicting from our current state of knowledge, not the future state.
    hayneiii@...
    Reply Vote

  • Every religion has its end of the world story, including

    environmentalism.
    baggins_z
    Reply Vote

  • Earth's biosphere is safe

    The conditions that can kill off humans will leave a very large number of species, including mammals, birds,and other vertebrates, living quite nicely without us.

    Frankly, the human race needs a judicious pruning. If nature does it for us, then we won't have to worry about any moral or ethical problems with our doing it.
    Dr_Zinj
    Reply Vote

    • True

      @Dr_Zinj
      Human population is expected hit 7 billion later this month. It took thousands of years for population to hit 1 billion and it now takes less than a generation to add a billion.

      Humans have gotten too good at manipulating the environment, protecting ourselves from our natural predators and we have been too successful in reproduction.

      I also prefer nature to trim back the population of humans, the thought of one person or one group deciding who and how many should live is repugnant.
      sboverie
      Reply Vote

      • RE: Superhumans, dead worlds, and the fate of the universe in pictures

        @sboverie@...

        Nature doesn't take the kinder or gentler approach. So why would you actually prefer that? Given that we already have the technology to limit population growth (birth control), wouldn't it be less brutal if we just found the right social formula for actually using it more widespread?

        gary
        gdstark13
        Reply Vote

    • RE: Superhumans, dead worlds, and the fate of the universe in pictures

      @Dr_Zinj How about we start the pruning process with you? You could give Mother Nature a boost by pruning yourself.
      camainc2
      Reply Vote

    • RE: Superhumans, dead worlds, and the fate of the universe in pictures

      @Dr_Zinj "Frankly, the human race needs a judicious pruning".<br><br>"The Human Gene Pool Needs A Good Dose Of Chlorine" <img border="0" src="http://www.cnet.com/i/mb/emoticons/happy.gif" alt="happy">
      rocketman67
      Reply Vote

    • in some circumstances parasites kill the host

      @Dr_Zinj
      it's possible humans will kill the earth.
      then again, maybe we can save ourselves through technology. No-one has a crystal ball, but it doesn't feel right or sustainable to be pouring the crap out that we do pour out. Make up your own minds.
      stevey_d
      Reply Vote

    • RE: Superhumans, dead worlds, and the fate of the universe in pictures

      @Dr_Zinj Sadly I have to agree with you. Humans have become a virus on the planet...sooner or later something's gotta give and only the rich are likely to survive.
      GeiselS@...
      Reply Vote
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