Leave Earth or die?

Question

What do people think of this statment, by Steven Hawking. "We must leave Earth or die'?

Answer 1

He's absolutley right. Though it's not likely that the world will end in our life times. At least not by natural means.

There is a possibiliy that an asteroid will hit us, which some believe wiped out the dinosaurs. But an asteroid of damaging size usually only hits the earth once every million years.

Eventually the sun will burn out. This will cause a supernova with enough explosive force to shatter our planet into tiny pieces. And of course if the planet still exist there will be no source of heat.

Then there is the issua of global warming. If the temperature continues to rise at it's current rate, all kinds of catastrophes are likely to happen. Earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, floods... et al.

Answer 2

What makes you think this hasn't happened before?
If there was an intelligent civilisation around and existing with the dinosaurs, how would we know? There was an article in the Mail yesterday showing a "computer" from 150bc which was used for astronomy. The Mayan calander has tremendous knowledge built into it and maps exist, which are copies of copies etc and centuries old which show Antarctica without ice. Where did these very advanced artifacts originate.
If we knew our civilisation was likely to be wiped out sometime by say an asteroid, wouldn't we build a base on say the Moon or Mars and seal it under the surface. The base would simply contain information stating- We existed and this is what we give you! We would also work on advancements in space travel rather than War and its possible we could be good enough to create colonies, some of which would succeed others of which would die out.
I'm not a UFO nut but I have read widely and there are some things which simply point to an advanced civilisation having existed in the past which "disappeared". The evidence is there for those who choose to look.

Answer 3

It is a very perceptive statement. Space exploration is necessary if we are going to get enough people off the planet to establish a viable breeding population before some disaster destroys Earth. This must be accomplished before we reach a point where the necessary resources can no longer be allocated. If we keep all our eggs in one basket (Earth) we will doom Humanity. It is thought that we may have already past the point where we can allocate the necessary resources before the demands of an ever increasing population to take this necessary step. Humanity may just end up a curious footnote in the lost civilization section of the Encyclopedia Galactia.

Answer 4

If 99.9 % of the species that have existed are extinct then it is a sure bet that some day we will be also. Now I don't think we can put a dude or dudette on a space ship that will make it to another star system. Maybe an asterroid,comet or our nuke crazy countrys will do us in but we will be done in one day by something .

Answer 5

Its a prediction based on population growth, diminishing natural resources and a nearing global climate catasprophe. Its a pretty likely prediction, man can't continue as he is now on earth so its either make like a tree or die.

Answer 6

I believe he has a point, there will come a time with rising populations etc where we will have to spread out and create new homes and civilisations.

I do believe like him that one good hit by some meteor and that's us done for. Plus it's in our nature to reach out to somewhere new and to explore. Just as we did with finding America etc. Although it will take perhaps a thousand years, we'll get there.

Answer 7

We don't have to make that decision for a few million years - by then the sun will have burnt all it's fuel and expanded, causing the Earth to be destroyed in a fiery ball of flame. It's all good at the moment though.

Answer 8

Well, not all of us at once, of course. But the fact is, this planet has a lifetime, just like anything else, and will eventually be uninhabitable, whatever we do. If we have not gotten our butts out of the nest by that time, we will be goners. Long before that, we have lots of other problems to solve, of course, including overpopulation. If that one is not resolved with emigration into space as well as with other methods, it will be resolved by massive war, disease, famine and all those horsemen of the Apocalypse.

Answer 9

He is probably meaning, we must explore and settle in space, because one day we will destroy the planet or an astroid or something will. If you think about it, its true. If the Earth blew up and people lived in space, they would live on, not sure how though, lol.

Answer 10

May be he meant we are consuming every possible resource and putting every possible pressure on this fragile little planet which will inturn leave it barren and leave us in a lurk - It is too late to rejuvenate the planet hence it is better we leave it for greener pastures