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15 - The Future of Humankind

from Part VI - Futures

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 November 2024

Manasvi Lingam
Affiliation:
Florida Institute of Technology
Amedeo Balbi
Affiliation:
Università degli Studi di Roma 'Tor Vergata'
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Summary

This chapter explores a core question in astrobiology: what is the future of life on Earth and beyond? The first part describes the cessation of habitable conditions in Earth’s distant future (about a billion years hereafter), and the myriad risks that apparently confront humanity on shorter timescales, ranging from wars and artificial intelligence to asteroid impacts and massive volcanoes. The second segment outlines the possibility of humans migrating to other worlds in the solar system, and the numerous technological and logistical challenges expected to arise during this endeavour. The even more daunting notion of interstellar travel is also touched upon, and the propulsion systems and spacecraft advanced in this regard are sketched. The textbook comes to a close by taking stock of the fates that might await humankind.

Type
Chapter
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From Stars to Life
A Quantitative Approach to Astrobiology
, pp. 341 - 352
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2024

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  • The Future of Humankind
  • Manasvi Lingam, Florida Institute of Technology, Amedeo Balbi, Università degli Studi di Roma 'Tor Vergata'
  • Book: From Stars to Life
  • Online publication: 22 November 2024
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009411257.016
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  • The Future of Humankind
  • Manasvi Lingam, Florida Institute of Technology, Amedeo Balbi, Università degli Studi di Roma 'Tor Vergata'
  • Book: From Stars to Life
  • Online publication: 22 November 2024
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009411257.016
Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • The Future of Humankind
  • Manasvi Lingam, Florida Institute of Technology, Amedeo Balbi, Università degli Studi di Roma 'Tor Vergata'
  • Book: From Stars to Life
  • Online publication: 22 November 2024
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009411257.016
Available formats
×